Plaited Origami Polyhedra

Stage: Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Some plaited polyhedral models appeared in and around the Centre for Mathematical Science here in Cambridge, where NRICH is based.

I was intrigued by how they were made and have taken some time to work out the individual units the models are made from.

Here are some pictures of the models. With the first few I have included one image with the a basic unit partially visible so you can get a feel for how the model was put together. At the end of this article I have included images showing how the two basic units that you plait together to make up these models are made.

Poly1Poly 1a

Poly2Poly2a

Poly 3Poly 3a

Poly 4

POly 5

How to fold the basic units that make up the polyuhedra:

Both start with a square:
Square to start

First Unit


Folding 2
A Word document with these images can be downloaded here.

Second Unit

Folding 1
A Word document with these images can be downloaded here.
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