KÜNDIG manufactures large sanding machines that take up significant space in factories. To optimize space usage, KÜNDIG wants to position their machines as close as possible to the factory walls. However, the conventional doors of their machines open sideways and rotate around a single axis, requiring a big distance to the wall.
KÜNDIG therefore sought a door that (a) folds during opening, (b) opens with a single degree-of-freedom so that factory workers can open the door with a single, one-handed motion, and (c) can be operated from one side of the machine.
Below is a compilation of concepts that were considered but not selected as the final solution, which is currently undergoing the patent process.
Dr. Matthew Gardiner at Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, sought the expertise of ORIKIN to assist in the construction of a large-scale art installation as part of a funded research project. The primary issue was that the art piece's underlying paper model, an origami spiral, contains more symmetries than usual and is consequently not rigidly foldable, rendering it unsuitable for production with stiff materials.
To address this open problem, ORIKIN provided scientific rigid origami knowledge, investigated the design space and developed a novel solution to make the spiral rigidly foldable. The construction and selection of suitable hinge designs for manufacturing resulted from collaborative effort.
The art installation was showcased at the Ars Electronica Festival from September 4th to 8th, 2024, in Linz, Austria.
Der Falter is a large-scale kinetic sculpture planned to be on display at the Swiss Science Center Technorama starting summer 2025.
At ORIKIN, we are passionate about showcasing the incredible world of origami and folding in general. Folding is an intricate, three-dimensional process that can be challenging to conceptualize in the brain. That’s why experiencing it firsthand through interactive pieces like Der Falter is so important—it brings the complexity of folding to life in a tangible way. And where better to experience this than at Technorama?
The rendering below represents the planned size of the sculpture but not its final placement or exact shape. Stay tuned for updates!
Les mémoires d'Helène, a theater collective based in Zürich, Switzerland, envisioned a foldable stage for their play Hotel Insomnia. In this surreal hotel, no one ever sleeps, not even the building itself, and during the play, the hotel comes alive: its walls move, furniture transforms, the entire space shifts.
The theater collective needed large-scale, easy-to-manufacture, remotely controlled, and transformable structures that can be easily transported after the play ends. A perfect fit for ORIKIN's modular 2.5D structures!
In this picture, Luca stands in front of the three sets of walls that in total amount to 3mx10m in size. The walls are flat foldable in horizontal direction and are planned to be motorized for the play. Stay tuned for updates!
Schauspielhaus Zürich premieres DIE ZAUBERFORMEL VON ZÜRICH, a family play, on Saturday, November 8, 2025. In the story, the character Lisa plays with a dollhouse that both reflects and shapes the world on stage.
To bring this imaginative world beyond the theater, Schauspielhaus Zürich wanted to offer children a tactile way to connect with the play and commissioned ORIKIN to design a foldable, glueable dollhouse. To acquire the craft sheet below, visit the play for a printed version or send us a private message.
At ORIKIN, our mission is to inspire awareness for the art of folding, which is why we’re thrilled to contribute to a project that sparks creativity and curiosity in younger generations.
... and many more to come!