Modular Balls and Polyhedra


Models of this type are also automatically listed in: abstract modular, abstract, balls and polyhedra, geometric, mathematical object, modular, multi-sheet More restrictive types: other modular polyhedron

Balls and polyhedra are among the most common forms modular origami models take.

This page lists models of a single type. You might be interested in folding instructions instead.
Dodecahedron (Penultimate Unit)

Dodecahedron (Penultimate Unit)

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

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...

Tetris

Tetris

The complete set of seven Tetris pieces, recreated in origami using the business card cube module. Of the seven pieces, six require the same number of units ...

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...

90-Edge Buckyball (PHiZZ Variant IV)

90-Edge Buckyball (PHiZZ Variant IV)

This was an experiment with yet another PHiZZ variation of mine, conducted a few years ago. I chose too soft paper (or too large sheets) for this model which...

Purple 90-Edge Buckyball (PHiZZ Variant II)

Purple 90-Edge Buckyball (PHiZZ Variant II)

90-edge buckyball made from a variation of Tom Hull’s PHiZZ unit. I know that other people have also designed this simple variant of the unit independently f...

Flower Icosahedron (StEM)

Flower Icosahedron (StEM)

This is an icosahedron (or dodecahedron, depending on how you look at it) made from a modified version of Sturdy Edge Module (StEM), a 90-degree unit variant...

Expanded Hexagonal Prism

Expanded Hexagonal Prism

This is a shape created by placing cubes on the outer square walls of a hexagonal prism. This way, the outer outline becomes a dodecagonal prism. Seen from t...

14-Spoked Wheel

14-Spoked Wheel

Mathematically speaking, this wheel is a tetradecagonal prism. This construction, which uses a mix of units made from 1:√2 and 1:2√2 paper, isn’t mathematica...

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.

Octahedron with Inverted Spikes on all Faces

Octahedron with Inverted Spikes on all Faces

This model’s structure is an octahedron whose each face was replaced with a pyramid of three equilateral right triangles, pointing inwards. Units are located...

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...

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 ...

Truncated Octahedron

Truncated Octahedron

This was one of my early modifications of the 60° unit. Note that in this modification, the angle at the module’s tip is NOT 60 degrees.

Flower Icosahedron (60°)

Flower Icosahedron (60°)

Compare with a dodecahedron constructed from units modified by me in a similar manner, and with a model with the same structure but using StEM units.

Icosahedron

Icosahedron

You can compare this model, which uses straight, unmodified units, with two models made from the same units after slight modification: Flower Icosahedron and...

Umbrella Dodecahedron

Umbrella Dodecahedron

The module, originally designed just for folding this dodecahedron, can be also used for other kinds of models. See, for example, this spiked icosahedron.

Poinsettia Ball

Poinsettia Ball

Model is placed near a real Poinsettia flower for comparison.

Decorated Dodecahedron (Penultimate unit)

Decorated Dodecahedron (Penultimate unit)

This model is made from 90 modules (modified variant for triangular faces). Each face of the dodecahedron is made from a 5-triangle group, where the triangul...

Truncated Cube (PHiZZ)

Truncated Cube (PHiZZ)

Generally, PHiZZ units are always connected in such way that three modules meet at each vertex. However, one can connect just two modules at some points, thu...

Modified Buckyball (120 edges)

Modified Buckyball (120 edges)

This is my experiment in modular origami made from two different types of units: 60 PHiZZ and 60 Penultimate units. These two kinds of modules are quite simi...

Jitterbug Icosidodecahedron

Jitterbug Icosidodecahedron

You can squeeze this model and transform it into an icosahedron, closing the empty space between units. This is called the jitterbug transformation.

Decorated Icosidodecahedron

Decorated Icosidodecahedron

One of the larger models I have designed, this icosidodecahedron has pentagonal faces made up of small triangular pyramids and triangular faces replaced with...

Steinhaus Puzzle

Steinhaus Puzzle

This puzzle, described in Hugo Steinhaus’ book Kalejdoskop matematyczny (Mathematical Snapshots, literally Mathematical Kaleidoscope) consists of six pieces,...

Large Icosahedron

Large Icosahedron

This icosahedron has nine triangular pyramids pointing inwards on each face. The same shape can also be described as a truncated icosahedron whose each face ...