Pop-Up Origamic Architecture [Paperback]

Masahiro Chatani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1985

Message from the Author: "After trying for some time to design original greeting cards, I finally designed some unique pop-up cards by folding and cutting paper. These cards were so popular among my friends and now I would like to introduce them to you in this lovely book. When you open one of these folded post-card sized constructions, there is wondrous movement and a structure arises which is so interesting and fascinating that it captures your attention. The dreamy scene created by light and shadow invites you to a fantasy world. Please try to make these unique cards by yourself by reproducing and developing shapes and spaces within folded paper twice as big as a post card. There are limitless possibilities in this art. Should you fail, do not give up. Remember that failure is the best teacher. There are three kinds of construction in this book. Two of them are made with a single sheet of paper. Of these two forms, one is not meant to be opened at all and the other is to be opened to an angle of 90 degrees. These two forms are fairly simple and easy to make. Cards which are to be opened to an angle of 180 degrees are a little more difficult but they are well worth trying. To make this kind of card, cut and assemble the parts into the required form, and attach it onto the foundation paper with thread. When these cards are opened, a three-dimensional form emerges before your eyes. The unfolding process is unexpected and even if you try to draw a diagram or think about it, you may find it difficult to understand the mechanism. Some cards do not need to be unfolded. they look three-dimensional without opening. Imagination helps achieve this effect. I do hope that boys and girls will foster their creativity through making these cards and that they will become fine architects in the future. I am thinking of spending my leisure after retirement making and playing with these cards." - Masahiro Chatani

Product Details

• Paperback: 87 pages
• Publisher: Ondorisha Publications (October 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870406566
• ISBN-13: 978-0870406560
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for summer school art teachers!!!, June 14, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Orange, California (near L.A.)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pop-Up Origamic Architecture (Paperback)

While living in Japan I "accidentally" picked up Mr. Chatani's book. I was instantly amazed at the cleverness of the projects. There were famous castles, buildings, bridges and monuments. With less than $50 worth of paper, knives, and glues I began my first efforts at imitating Mr. Chatani's wonderful work. My first few projects (Nagoya Castle and the Duomo in Milano)were not very impressive, but after a week of serious effort, I began making cards that were really impressing friends and family. Then, after gaining more confidence, I began to improvise a bit, using oddly textured and colored papers, and even delicately painting the cards.

Now, as a high school teacher, I will be teaching a summer school class next month using the basic techniques learned from Mr. Chatani's book. He has had a great influence on me through his books.

He is a wonderful author, and the projects in his books are truly brilliant!

I hope he, or some one he knows, is able to pass on my sincere thanks, and the hope that he might be able to contact me or my school in the near future--perhaps with just a few words of encouragement or advice for my young pupils, who are about to study and learn from his books.

Thank you for your wonderful work Mr. Chatani!

Emerson Honors High School, Mr. Steve Bonfiglio, 4100 East Walnut St., Orange, Calif. 92869, USA

Fax: [phone] Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

P.S. Please feel free to write in Japanese (but in Romaji) if you wish.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is worth the time to make these beautiful paper scultures, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pop-Up Origamic Architecture (Paperback)

I would recommend this book to anyone who like to create something unexpectedly lovely. I give these as gifts. At first this looks impossibly difficult, but with a little patience and persistance they will look just like the models in the book.

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, June 12, 2010

By 

L. L. Price (NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pop-Up Origamic Architecture (Paperback)

This thin volume explores the sculptural potential of paper with photos of each piece constructed in pure-white card stock, along with templates to help the reader really understand the magic of using a material we typically envision as two dimensional, to create objects in 3D. Conjure geometric shapes, curvilinear figures, building facades and more. Simple, clean, and designerly rather than typical craft fare. As the title suggests, this book does devote more pages to simple pop-up card design than the Author's more amazing 1983 book, Origamic Architecture (English and Japanese Edition).