Origami Architecture: Papercraft Models of the World's Most Famous Buildings [Hardcover]

Yee (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 10, 2011

The incredible splendors of some of the worlds' most recognized architectural feats are brought to life within the pages of Origami Architecture. With this book, some card stock paper, and a hobby knife, anyone can build spectacular re-creation's of the most famous buildings in the world. It gives instructions and templates for 16 buildings, including the Parthenon, the White House, the Eiffel Tower, the Chrysler building, and the Forbidden City. There are over 900 photographs detailing the cutting and assembling of the pieces, most without using glue or tape. Once the structure is attached to the base not only will does it look amazing, but it can be folded up and taken anywhere. For the would-be architect, the papercraft hobbyist, or a model builder, Origami Architecture will provide hours of activity with impressive results.

Projects include:

• Arc de Triomphe

• Leaning Tower of Pisa

• Hall of Supreme Harmony

• White House

• National Centre for the Performing Arts China

• Sydney Opera House

• Eiffel Tower

• Osaka Castle

• Petronas Towers

• Westminster Abbey

• Tower Bridge

• United States Capitol

• Chrysler Building

• Athens Parthenon

• Lincoln Memorial

• Palace of Westminster

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Want a challenge? Most people are familiar with folded paper origami cranes or napkin swans. Some paper folders have graduated to folding elephants, crabs or geometric shapes. Then there are true papercraft artists whose creations are above and beyond a hobbyist's skill. In this case, you have Yee.

Origami Architecture is for anyone who aspires to be the type of artist who is meticulous, exacting and fascinated by complexity."—McClatchy Newspapers

"Yee (yes, just Yee) is a world-renowned papercrafter, and in Origami Architecture he offers readers a global portfolio of construction projects, with step-by-step instructions for paper models of 16 landmarks, from the Arc de Triomphe to Westminster Palace. After a shopping list of suitable materials and necessary tools, Yee provides general guidelines and tips, some of which have the tenor of fortune cookies, as applicable to daily life as they are to papercraft: "You must understand completely what you are trying to do before you do it."

Discover: A perfect gift for architects, aspiring world travelers or papercrafting fans."—Shelf Awareness for Readers

"What's notable about these paper replicas is how much detail that plain white paper can illuminate. When you strip away the model's materiality, the simple interface of light and shade highlights the striking beauty of the buildings' architectural outlines. That such intricate crafts can be folded flat only adds to their mystery."—ARCHITECT

About the Author

The artist known as Yee is world renowned for his paper structure designs and creations. Over the years he has perfected his craft and is now recognized as one of the world's foremost paper crafters. He sells custom paper craft work through his website, yeesjob.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Hardcover with jacket and disc edition (October 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4805311541
• ISBN-13: 978-4805311547
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.7 x 12 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Toys & Models > Models

More About the Author

My name is Yee (full name Sheung Yee Shing). I am a Canadian designer, paper engineer, paper architect and author. I have been doing various papercrafts for more than 37 years. Creating and designing papercraft is both my hobby and job. Paper (one of the great inventions of Chinese) is one of the most interesting material, it has millions of possibilities. I am trying to discover as many of them as I can. I do paper-cutting, origami, pop up cards, origami architecture, paper toy, paper costume, paper lamp, and paper model, etc. Most of my designs and methods come entirely from my imagination.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars OH MY GOD! November 17, 2011

By ae

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is absolutely beyond amazing!

You can see not only how much efforts did the author contribute to every single page but also the exceptional details presented in each page.

I am in fact very surprised that this book only cost 15 dollars, I would willing to pay for this wonderful book for even 50 dollars.

It does worth that much, or even beyond! If you love paper craft, this book is a must-have, even perfect for thanksgiving present or a X'mas gift!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for lovers of paper art. September 5, 2012

By perennialgardener

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book will give you either hours of fun or hours of headaches, hopefully both. These are kind of slice-form models of famous buildings, that collapse. Extremely detailed models, plus so much detail about their construction that it is nearly overwhelming.

WARNING - This book comes with a computer CD that contains all the patterns. If you buy it used, make SURE that the CD is still there or it will be just a coffee table book of nice pictures.

This author is a paper fanatic, and a treasure to the art world. If you like paper art, or would like to try it, get this book, an Exacto knife and a huge supply of #11 & #17 blades (great deals on Amazon!)and get busy.

I decided to do the hardest model in the book, (they are arranged in order of difficulty), and it is going to take me a couple years to finish in my spare time. There are thousands of very tiny intricate cuts to make, specially on the windows.

TIP - get the #17 Exacto blades to make the windows on the last model, and possible others as well. You can just punch them out instead of cutting with a pointed blade. Saves hours! If you are in paper art, you will know what I mean.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the novice January 10, 2013

By Charles L. Clark II

Format:Hardcover

I bought the book because I immediately saw myself spending hours building these models when I saw the cover. What fun I thought! What a novice I am is what I actually discovered. While the CD has ALL of the templates and the book has GREAT designs and photos NOWHERE are there tips on how to cut, fold or punch any of the designs. This disappointed me greatly. For Yee to be such a paper advocate I would have thought that at least the CD would have videos, photos or even links to other resources for any of the techniques he describes. This is not a book for someone who thinks they can sit down and build one in afternoon but if you want to build some skill with paper - this could be the inspirational book for you.