Unfolding Morphologies: The Dynamics of Folding for Adaptive Spatial Design

Abstract

This thesis investigates folding as a transformative design strategy for creating responsive architectural elements. While folding techniques are often used in architectural design, their potential for adaptive responsiveness is, in most cases, untapped due to a limited understanding of their underlying behavior. Focusing on small-scale prototypes, particularly architectural textiles and wearable designs, this research examines the Miura-Ori folding pattern as a fundamental system for generating dynamic, reconfigurable forms. Using component studies and physical prototypes, a bi-stable wearable is created to demonstrate folding’s ability to produce flexible configurations that respond to environmental and user input. This wearable illustrates folding’s capacity to contribute both functional adaptability and aesthetic versatility. Through this work, folding is positioned as a powerful tool for adaptive, user-oriented design, fostering innovation in responsive architectural spaces.