Modular ① – few units

This page lists modular origami models made from a small number of units (no more than 12).

Cube (Penultimate Unit)

Cube (Penultimate Unit)

A cube made from Penultimate Unit, designed by Robert Neale. These units are very simple to fold and very versatile.

Star Moira (variant A)

Star Moira (variant A)

It’s been a while since I last worked on modular stars, but I designed this one, along with a few variants, at the end of 2023. Variant A is rather fragile a...

Cuboctahedron (Open Frame Unit)

Cuboctahedron (Open Frame Unit)

I folded this cuboctahedron from modified Open Frame Units (Tomoko Fuse) around 2013. Just 12 units are used, and without modification, they would create a r...

Two-Unit Cube III

Two-Unit Cube III

Yet another approach to making a cube from two identical units. This design is paper-effective, and looks very clean from the top and the sides. Looking at t...

Star Lethe

Star Lethe

I think this is the last star from my 2019 modular star craze that I haven’t published before.

Ampersand (CLU)

Ampersand (CLU)

In 2021, I went back to my Cross Lap Unit (CLU) from 2016 and folded this ampersand (&) character. The ampersand symbol, which is, strictly speaking, nei...

Star Kratos

Star Kratos

Another design from my 2019 modular star phase.

Recycling Symbol

Recycling Symbol

A modular recycling symbol, my design from 2021. Mathematically speaking, it is a Möbius strip. Folded from three units, each forming one corner of the trian...

Möbius Chain (CBU)

Möbius Chain (CBU)

Each link of this chain is a Möbius strip folded from a single CBU unit, essentially a Möbius Strip V (CBU). For a chain with regular, round links, see Chain...

Tower of Babel (CBU)

Tower of Babel (CBU)

This is just a single long Conveyor Belt Unit (CBU) wound into a coil, but it looks like the Tower of Babel in Bruegel’s painting or the Guggenheim Museum.

Heart, Ladybug, and Mushroom on BBU Cube

Heart, Ladybug, and Mushroom on BBU Cube

This model is just a friendly reminder that almost any tessellation can be transformed into a BBU tile, and combined with other tiles to create 3D shapes wit...

Alien Vase

Alien Vase

This wireframe vase is not very practical as a container, but the design is interesting. It can be used to hold a tennis ball in place and prevent it from ro...

Star Ioke

Star Ioke

A simple modular star I designed in 2019. I used paper with a heavy pattern which unfortunately masks the crease lines to such degree that practically only t...

Star Hecate

Star Hecate

It’s been a while since I posted a modular star design, so here is another, from late 2019 when I was very much into this genre. This one has octagonal symme...

Tetrahedron (Dark Garden pattern)

Tetrahedron (Dark Garden pattern)

I photographed this model ten years ago, in January 2013. It is just a simple tetrahedron folded from Francis Ow’s 60 degree unit. What makes it more interes...

Hedgehog Star III (with proper color change)

Hedgehog Star III (with proper color change)

Since today is Polish Independence Day, I’m publishing a picture of my Hedgehog Star III folded in Polish national colors. This work uses a proper color chan...

Hedgehog Star III

Hedgehog Star III

A follow-up design to Hedgehog Star II from February. There is a color-change, but in this fold I used two kinds of metallic paper, each same color on both s...

Hedgehog Star II (proper color change)

Hedgehog Star II (proper color change)

Another fold of Hedgehog Star II, once again in Ukrainian national colors since symbolizing Ukraine’s resistance in the face of Russia’s aggression was the r...

Star Phobos (variant B)

Star Phobos (variant B)

A variant of Star Phobos that has additional decoration in the center of the star on the front side.

Star Glycon

Star Glycon

A modular star I designed in early 2020. There are several ways in which the units can be connected, of which the one shown here is most stable. Since the la...

Ninja Star

Ninja Star

This is a very simple and elegant traditional model: a ninja star you can actually throw quite well. With just two units it’s also one of the simplest modula...

Shiba Inu

Shiba Inu

This Shiba Inu dog by Makoto Yamaguchi is an example of a figurative model folded from two sheets, with one sheet being used for the head and tail and the ot...

Star Phobos (variant A)

Star Phobos (variant A)

This is a very simple modular star, this time with square rather than hexagonal symmetry. It looks a bit like a compass rose with only the four cardinal dire...

Hedgehog Star II

Hedgehog Star II

I designed and folded this spiked origami star bearing Ukrainian national colors last Monday night, after Putin’s speech. The design has a color-change, but...

6<sub>2</sub> Knot (CBU)

62 Knot (CBU)

The 62 Knot is one of three prime knots with crossing number six. Though not as well known as the Trefoil Knot, it is also quite interesting. This origami ve...

Fortune Teller Christmas Tree

Fortune Teller Christmas Tree

You can assemble a simple Christmas tree from multiple Fortune Tellers (which you probably already know how to fold). Each Fortune Teller is smaller than the...

Trefoil Knot (CBU)

Trefoil Knot (CBU)

In contrast to my earlier trefoil knot from CLU unit, which used a more elongated strip of paper and was shaped more like a clover, this trefoil knot is fold...

Star Eris 1.1 (variant A)

Star Eris 1.1 (variant A)

Yet another simple design from the time I got into modular origami stars. Unpublished version 1.0 used a less effective lock between the units.

Möbius Strip V (CBU)

Möbius Strip V (CBU)

A Möbius strip consisting of a single Conveyor Belt Unit (CBU) twisted and locked with itself by both ends. This is the cleanest representation of a Möbius s...

Conveyor Belt (CBU)

Conveyor Belt (CBU)

A conveyor belt, made from Conveyor Belt Units (CBU). Instead of connecting the ends together, one could also leave the model in the form of a flat tape, or ...

Chain (CBU)

Chain (CBU)

When I was little, it was common for kids to make paper chains as Christmas tree decoration (łańcuch na choinkę). These chains were made by cutting colored p...

Star Deimos (variant D)

Star Deimos (variant D)

In this variant of Star Deimos, units are modified so that there is no pocket in the top visible layer. This requires a change to the locking mechanism and r...

Trefoil Knot

Trefoil Knot

A trefoil knot from a single Cross Lap Unit.

30-60-90-Degree Star

30-60-90-Degree Star

The units from which this star is made, are folded from triangles whose angles are 30°, 60° and 90°. Such triangles are created when you cut a hexagon from a...

Star Deimos (variant C)

Star Deimos (variant C)

A variant of Star Deimos in which the rays are asymmetrically narrowed on one side, giving the star’s outline the appearance of a saw blade.

Star Deimos (variant B)

Star Deimos (variant B)

Variant B of Star Deimos differs from the base shape only by a single fold which reveals more of the white side of the paper in the center.

Heart-Shaped Coil

Heart-Shaped Coil

This is a model I designed and folded back in 2016. It is made from the same kind of units as Single-Module Modular Heart. Any number of units can be used si...

Two-Unit Cube II

Two-Unit Cube II

Another simple model in which a cube is built from just two units. See also: Two-Unit Cube I.

Two-Unit Cube I

Two-Unit Cube I

This is a very simple modular origami design I recently came up with when revisiting my Oxi unit from a few years ago. The unit has folded edges on one side ...

Star Chaos (variant B)

Star Chaos (variant B)

Variant B of my Star Chaos. Modular origami model from 6 units. Duo paper courtesy of a friend.

Star Deimos

Star Deimos

Star Deimos, another of my simple modular origami star designs. There is a color change in the center of the model, and the six-fold symmetry allows for seve...

Crown of Thorns

Crown of Thorns

Crown of Thorns: modular origami from 8 units. Each unit is from an 8:1 rectangle of paper and all units can be precreased as a single square only to be cut ...

Star Boreas

Star Boreas

An octagonal modular star. Own design, folded from Harmony paper.

Star Ananke (variant G)

Star Ananke (variant G)

Yet another variant of Star Ananke. Variants of this design were designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (with mino...

Star Ananke (variant F)

Star Ananke (variant F)

This variant of Star Ananke features an additional hexagon in the center of the model. It’s a small change in the individual unit, but it makes connecting th...

Star Ananke (variant D)

Star Ananke (variant D)

This is the front of Star Ananke, variant D. The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (wit...

Star Ananke (variant D) with Angels

Star Ananke (variant D) with Angels

This is the back side of Star Ananke (variant D). The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn...

Star Ananke (variant C)

Star Ananke (variant C)

A modification (variant C) of Star Ananke. The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (with ...

Star Chaos (variant A)

Star Chaos (variant A)

Modular origami stars are quite addictive: I set out to create just one simple model for a workshop and before I knew it, I had about a dozen different desig...

Star Ananke (variant B)

Star Ananke (variant B)

A modification (variant B) of Star Ananke. The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (with ...

Star Ananke (variant A)

Star Ananke (variant A)

As part of preparations for my presentation and workshop on contemporary origami, I set out to design a simple modular star which I could teach in the worksh...

Meander

Meander

A Greek meander pattern folded as modular origami. The bent frame technique is the “Thoki Yenn style” which I also employed in a number of other models, for ...

Hydrangea Cube (Harmony paper)

Hydrangea Cube (Harmony paper)

Shuzo Fujimoto’s Hydrangea can be used as a modular unit. The method was first published by Meenakshi Mukerji and then reinvented independently by myself. I ...

Lelum Cube

Lelum Cube

A modified version of Lelum Polelum Cube where one out of each pair of flaps is hidden.

Lelum Polelum Cube

Lelum Polelum Cube

A Cube from a unit I recently designed and later learned that was earlier designed independently by Saburo Kase. More details in the unit’s description.

Picture Frame with Hedgehogs

Picture Frame with Hedgehogs

Origami picture frame with two little hedgehogs on the bottom bar. The frame is based on this design. The hedgehogs are a prototype of what later became Hedg...

Maltese Cross Framed

Maltese Cross Framed

A single molecule of my Maltese Cross Tessellation, which is closely related to the Cross Pattee Tessellation presented in the Coat of Arms of Rzeszów model....

Modular Picture Frame

Modular Picture Frame

A modular version of this picture frame. Folded from 4 units, each from 1:2 paper.

Möbius Strip IV (CLU)

Möbius Strip IV (CLU)

The Möbius band (aka Möbius strip) is an interesting mathematical object, a single-sided surface. This origami version is folded using my Cross Lap Unit (CLU...

Heart (CLU)

Heart (CLU)

Origami heart made from a single Cross Lap Unit (CLU), using a similar technique as my Ichthys. Metallic paper with acrylic paint.

Ichthys

Ichthys

Easter is coming so with fluffy bunnies and cute chickens aplenty, it’s good to also add this fish to the pack.

Single-Module Modular Heart

Single-Module Modular Heart

This heart is made from a single module which is a modification of 90-degree unit (independently discovered by me and others), so it’s like a modular design ...

Coaster (WSM)

Coaster (WSM)

Coaster made from 4 slightly modified Woven Slit Modules (WSM) folded from square paper. The two sides of the coaster display different patterns. Six coaster...

Cube from Recursive Four-Sink Base

Cube from Recursive Four-Sink Base

This cube is made from six units, each of which is a recursive four-sink base modified for use as a module.

Saturn (WSM)

Saturn (WSM)

Another Saturn-themed origami, this time a modular made from my Woven Slit Module (WSM). 10 units are used altogether: 6 for the orb, 3 for attaching the rin...

Fractal Pinwheel Cube

Fractal Pinwheel Cube

This is an example of using my Fractal Pinwheel as a modular unit. Due to small size, there’s only one level so the fractalness is not so clearly visible.

Cube (2:1 paper, slits outside)

Cube (2:1 paper, slits outside)

In this assembly method, each of the cube’s faces is made of two modules which are both attached to both perpendicular modules in the same way. Together with...

Square Weave Cube

Square Weave Cube

This is a modular cube made of six Square Weave Tessellations. The connection method is mine, the authorship of the Square Weave Tessellation seems to be dis...

Hydrangea Cube

Hydrangea Cube

I came up with the idea of connecting Hydrangeas to form a modular origami design independently, then found out Meenakshi Mukerji had published it in her boo...

Gasherbrum

Gasherbrum

This is the simplest of Robert J. Lang’s polypolyhedra. A more descriptive name of this model is four intersecting triangles, or 4 × 3 × 1 polypolyhedron.

Rectangular Cuboid

Rectangular Cuboid

This model demonstrates how Building Block Units can be modified to form rectangular rather than square faces. Just like the cube, this model uses 12 modules...

Cube (BBU D9)

Cube (BBU D9)

Cube from 12 modules: 6 × D9, 6 × A1.

Cube from Sunken Vertex Units

Cube from Sunken Vertex Units

The result of using the sunken variant of PVM Vertex Unit is a cube with four vertices replaced by inverted pyramids.

Toshie’s Jewel (StEM)

Toshie’s Jewel (StEM)

Normally, Toshie’s jewel is made from Sonobe units, but this one is made from StEM units instead.

Tetrahedron (StEM)

Tetrahedron (StEM)

This model (first from the left) is compared here with some other simple polyhedra folded from the same kind of module. Note how the tetrahedron looks almost...

Tetrahedron (SEU Sonobe)

Tetrahedron (SEU Sonobe)

This model (first in bottom row) is shown compared to other models folded from SEU units made from 2:1 and square paper (top and bottom row, respectively). N...

Tetrahedron (SEU from 2:1 paper)

Tetrahedron (SEU from 2:1 paper)

This model (first in top row) is shown compared to other models folded from SEU units made from 2:1 and square paper (top and bottom row, respectively). Note...

Ring

Ring

This ring can also be worn as a headband. It uses a non-standard way of connecting the modules. Any even number of modules can be connected this way, though ...

Octahedron (StEM, modules pointing outside)

Octahedron (StEM, modules pointing outside)

This model (first from the right, top row) is compared here with some other simple polyhedra folded from the same kind of module. The two octahedra demonstra...

Octahedron (StEM, modules pointing inside)

Octahedron (StEM, modules pointing inside)

This model (first from the right, bottom row) is compared here with some other simple polyhedra folded from the same kind of module. The two octahedra demons...

Octahedron (SEU Sonobe)

Octahedron (SEU Sonobe)

This model (last in bottom row) is shown compared to other models folded from SEU units made from 2:1 and square paper (top and bottom row, respectively). No...

Octahedron (SEU from 2:1 paper)

Octahedron (SEU from 2:1 paper)

This model (last in top row) is shown compared to other models folded from SEU units made from 2:1 and square paper (top and bottom row, respectively). Note ...

Cube (StEM)

Cube (StEM)

This model (second from the left) is compared here with some other simple polyhedra folded from the same kind of module.

Cube (SEU Sonobe)

Cube (SEU Sonobe)

This model (second in bottom row) is shown compared to other models folded from SEU units made from 2:1 and square paper (top and bottom row, respectively).

Cube (SEU from 2:1 paper)

Cube (SEU from 2:1 paper)

This model (second in top row) is shown compared to other models folded from SEU units made from 2:1 and square paper (top and bottom row, respectively).

Ticket Cube

Ticket Cube

I folded this business card cube from Warsaw public transport tickets rather than from business cards. 12 modules: 6 for the body and 6 for the coating.

Christmas Ornament (TEM)

Christmas Ornament (TEM)

This particular model is made from 3 modules, but any number of modules from 2 upwards can be used to create similar models. The only limitation is paper’s t...

Koch Snowflake, level 1 (Trimodule)

Koch Snowflake, level 1 (Trimodule)

A level-1 Koch snowflake is just a simple hexagonal star, and this is the way of connecting the Trimodule units originally suggested in Nick Robinson’s instr...