Complex Origami by POPUPology

Facing facts here... my brain just doesn't work the same way as that of paper engineer, Elod Beregszaszi, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the incredibly complex cut and fold paper designs he loves to create.

lighted pop-up card design of Brighton Pavilion, England
Brighton Pavilion, England

Elod explains that his interest in origamic architecture (a form of kirigami) "was sparked by a trip to the London Japan Centre where I chanced on a pattern book by Masahiro Chatani. I was immediately hooked, and have been designing my own templates, both architectural and abstract, ever since."

male artist with cut and folded paper art
Elod and Concertina Towers

Many of his designs are cut and folded from a single sheet of paper and can be fully collapsed.


St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest

Example of Elod's photographic origamic architecture:



He founded POPUPology in 2006 as a commission-based design studio. Elod produces installations for art and design shows, and collaborates on projects such as window displays and folding paper products.

Here's just one example from his clever collection of business card designs; see many more on Flickr.



I love this unique wedding card too.



Currently Elod is featuring a Paper Build Competition on the Facebook POPUPology page [edit: this has ended] To enter, simply post a picture of your favorite building (front and side views) labelled "paper build" on his wall.



Every two weeks, Elod will select one building to transform into origamic architecture and will send a finished card featuring the design to the person who submitted the idea. How's that for a great way to own an original art piece?!


kinetic step pop-up


spine concertina

If you'd like to try your hand at kiriorigami (cut-fold-paper), Elod has posted some free templates and tutorials. He also has a new shop called, what else?... POPUPology where you can purchase his work, including a lovely Japanese Tea House card. Elod is donating all of the profits from the sale of the Tea House to those who were left homeless by the Japanese tsunami.

Ann Martin
Ann Martin

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