Bend-a-Ball: Make Flexible Zonohedra and Other Polyhedra with a Simple Modular Origami Edge Unit
Tung Ken Lam

Proceedings of Bridges 2024: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Culture
Pages 553–560
Workshop Papers

Abstract

In this workshop we will make modular origami structures that bend and collapse, commonly known as flexiballs. However, instead of Jorge Pardo’s unit, we will use an improved and simplified unit that makes for better results. Within the 90 minutes of the workshop, we should be able to make the 12-unit cube/rhombohedron and/or the 24-unit rhombic dodecahedron: these are degree-3 and degree-4 polar zonohedra (PZ). 20 units make a partial icosahedron. Experienced folders may wish to begin to make the 40-unit degree-5 PZ rhombic icosahedron or 60-unit rhombic triacontahedron. Practical considerations are the number of units and desired colours. One classic colouring scheme is to use the same colour for parallel edges, another is the same colour for edges meeting at a vertex.

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