Prototypes for the Smithsonian Museum

Home/1Commissions/Origami Production/Prototypes for the Smithsonian Museum

 

hirshhorn-exterior

In mid 2017, Taro’s Origami was approached by the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. about a project to re-create the famous Hirshhorn Museum building in paper.  This is a great example of a collaborative project between Taro’s Origami Studio and a corporate client where the project went through many different iterations, to arrive at something better than when we began.  To begin with- here is a photograph of the actual historic landmark on the mall in Washington D.C.

As you can see- the building itself offers some exciting and unique challenges for creating an origami version.  To begin with, the building is round, which is always a bit of a challenge for origami design.  Secondly, the building is lifted off the ground on a platform, so there is another layer of detail needed to create a good representation.  The last and perhaps largest challenge for this project though, was the fact that the client wanted the model to be easy enough for people to fold on their own with only a little bit of instruction.  What follows is a few of the stages that the Taro’s Origami team went through to work with the Smithsonian

Image uploaded from iOS

 

Prototype 1: This model was the initial steps taken just to decide on a generally feasible direction for the building.  There are many different ways to approach cylinders in origami, but in order to make a model easy enough for others to successfully fold, The Taro’s Team focused on an external skin that could easily curl up from a flat piece of paper.  The trade-off however is that the model looks more rounded the more folds that you add, but the more folds there are the harder it is to create.  This lead the team to create other prototypes with less sides and an easier construction.

 

Hirshhorn Origami Model - Better Side View

Prototype 2: The next model that was developed included a twisted base for the model to rest on, so that it has the same floating quality that the building does in how it feels elevated from the ground.  The way this model was developed meant that there would also be both a top and bottom piece so that the model remained easy to fold.  It also allows the model’s top section to incorporate color in the next iterations.

 

IMG_4885

 

Prototype 3: The next versions of the model were at the request of the client to skin some fun and colorful designs onto the top part.  These also show off the more polished open top part of the model to resemble the building.  Taro’s Origami Studio was able to mock up several different versions of the model with different patterns and shaped on them.  In the last picture you can see the final version of the prototyped model, with both the lifted-up pedestal and also the Smithsonian and Hirshhorn graphics added to the side of the model.

 

IMG_5543

IMG_4883

 

 

Related Posts

2018年10月27日(ブルックリン第4回)認定タローズ折り紙アーティスト/講師無料ガイダンス 

NYとサンフラシスコにあるタローズ折紙スタジオが提供する認定アーティスト・講師講座の無料ガイダンス(第1部)と、講習会(第2部)と、ワークショップ・懇親会(第3部)です。 ★第1部の無料ガイダンスでは、まず、タローズ折り紙スタジオの活動の紹介及び、タローズ折り紙スタジオが提供する独自の折り紙教授法「Taro's Origami Method」の紹介を致します。タローズ折り紙スタジオでは、Taro's Origami Methodに基づくOrigami Artistの認定を行っており、無料ガイダンスの最後にこの認定制度の紹介も致します。無料ガイダンスのみの参加も可能です。 ★第2部では、第1部に引き続き、希望者に対して認定コースの第1回講習会を行います。認定コースは全4回からなり、その第1回目になります。2回目以降の講習会は、オンサイト(ニューヨーク、サンフランシスコ、東京、フィラデルフィア、その他)若しくはオンラインで受講可能です。なお、第1部の無料ガイダンスセミナー参加者に引き続き、そのまま講習会に参加することも可能です(ただし有料)。なお、様子を知りたいという方は、無料で第2部の講習会を見学できます。また、第1部に参加せず、第2部の講習会からの参加も可能です。 ★第3部は、実践ワークショップ・懇親会で、認定コース受講者及び認定コース修了者向けで、懇親会を兼ねて練習及び折り紙講師によるワークショップを行います。 ★時間・費用 [...]

Cadillac Doves

Last week Taro's Origami Studio embarked on yet another large scale installation for a prestigious worldwide brand.  Over the course of the last month, the Taro's staff worked with the people at the Cadillac House in Lower Manhattan to design from scratch, render, select colors for, fold, and install a massive origami dove flock to fly from their brand new XT4 vehicle and into the rest of their building.

2018年10月19日 (東京第3回)認定タローズ折り紙アーティスト/講師無料ガイダンス

NYとサンフラシスコにあるタローズ折紙スタジオの認定アーティスト・講師講座を紹介するガイダンスセミナーです。 認定コースの紹介→ http://www.tarosorigami.com/certification-courses/ ★時間 午後6時~午後7時 無料ガイダンスセミナー なお、この後のプログラムは、以下です。無料ガイダンスセミナー参加者の方は、7時からの講習会を見学可能です。 午後7時~午後8時 Taro's Origami Artist 認定コース東京第1期第3回講習会 午後8時~午後9時 実践ワークショップ [...]

Go to Top