Paper architectures are 3D paper buildings created by folding

Paper architectures are 3D paper buildings created by folding and cutting. The creation process of paper architecture is often laborintensive and highly skill-demanding, even with the aid of existing computer-aided design tools. We propose an automatic algorithm for generating paper architectures given a user-specified 3D model. The algorithm is grounded on geometric formulation of planar layout for paper architectures that can be popped-up in a rigid and stable manner, and sufficient conditions for a 3D surface to be poppedup from such a planar layout. Based on these conditions, our algorithm computes a class of paper architectures containing two sets of parallel patches that approximate the input geometry while guaranteed to be physically realizable.

The method is demonstrated on a number of architectural examples, and physically engineered results are presented. CR Categories: I.3.5 [Computer Graphics]: Computational Geometry and Object Modeling—Geometric algorithms, languages, and systems; Keywords: paper architecture, pop-up card, computer art, planar layout