Origami Heaven

A paperfolding paradise

The website of writer and paperfolding designer David Mitchell

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Cubes
 
Many of the modules for these cubes can be reconfigured to make silverhedra which will show similar patterns on their faces.
 
Basic Cubes
 
  Name: The Unconventional Cube - a stable cube made from modules created in just three folds and assembled in an irregular way.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry. Modules identical to those of the 3-Fold Paul Jackson Cube.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2009.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Simplex Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 24 L-shaped Simplex modules from squares using standard folding geometry. Cubes made from larger numbers of modules are also possible.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1989.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
Sonobe Cube variations
 
  Name: Sonobe Eccentric Flash Motif Cubes

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules in three sets of different designs using standard folding geometry. This set of modules can be combined to create three symmetric cubes and fourteen different eccentric cubes (cubes in which no two faces are of identical pattern).

Designer / Date: Decorative Sonobe module variation by Kunihiko Kasahara, c1980s. Module set and eccentric cubes by David Mitchell, 1989.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Skew Sonobe Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 Skew Sonobe modules from squares using the natural folding geometry of the 2x1 rectangle.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1990.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Decorative Skew Sonobe Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 Decorative Skew Sonobe modules from squares using the natural folding geometry of the 2x1 rectangle.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1990.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Mondrian Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 Mondrian modules (assymetric corner-pocket Sonobe modules) from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1995.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Cockeyed Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 8 Mondrian modules (assymetric corner-pocket Sonobe modules) in two sets of four of different proportions combined with four standard Corner-pocket Sonobe modules. All from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2017.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Broken Star Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 Decorative Skew Sonobe modules from squares using the natural folding geometry of the 2x1 rectangle.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1990.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
Paul Jackson Cube variations
 
  Name: The Centre Stripe Cube - a decorative variation of the Paul Jackson Cube.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1989.

Diagrams: Not yet available.

 
  Name: The Chequerboard Cube - a decorative variation of the Paul Jackson Cube.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1989.

Diagrams: In Building with Butterflies (2nd Edition) - Water Trade - ISBN 978-9534774-7-0.

 
  Name: Iso Cubes - variations of the Paul Jackson Cube that can be assembled from the same set of modules.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: In Building with Butterflies (2nd Edition) - Water Trade - ISBN 978-9534774-7-0.

 
  Name: Single Diagonal Stripe Cubes - variations of the Paul Jackson Cube that can be assembled from the same set of modules.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: In Building with Butterflies (2nd Edition) - Water Trade - ISBN 978-9534774-7-0.

 
  Name: Double Diagonal Stripe Cubes - variations of the Paul Jackson Cube that can be assembled from the same set of compound modules.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 compound modules, each from two squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: In Building with Butterflies (2nd Edition) - Water Trade - ISBN 978-9534774-7-0.

 
  Name: Yin Yang Cubes - variations of the Paul Jackson Cube that can both be assembled from the same set of modules.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: In Building with Butterflies (2nd Edition) - Water Trade - ISBN 978-9534774-7-0.

 
Letterbox Cube variations
 
  Name: The Letterbox Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1987.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox alpha 12-part Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1987.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox beta 12-part Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1987.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox 24-part Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 24 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1987.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox Diagonal Diablo Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox Double Rotor Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 Double Rotor Letterbox modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox Tiled Diablo Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 Double Rotor Letterbox modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Letterbox Tiled Double Rotor Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 24 Double Rotor Letterbox modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Antithesis Cubes - cubes which can be reassembled as their antithesis without reconfiguring the modules.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The The Multicube - two regular cubes, an eccentric cube and other unusual cubes all from the same set of modules.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Phoenix Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 2 sets of 3 mirror-image triangle letterbox modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
Darwin Cube variations
 
  Name: The Darwin Cube - cube with four concealed flaps which can be brought into view individually and configured to create contrast patterns.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Cyclone Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Diablo Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Double Flash Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Eccentric Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Eccentric Flash Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Lightning Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Darwin Triple Motif Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Darwin Yin Yang Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
Other Patterned Cubes
 
  Name: The Two-Fold Cube - a stable cube made from modules created in just two folds.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 24 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1995.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Semi-Sonobe Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 modules from 2x1 rectangles using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2013.

Diagrams: Not yet available.

 
  Name: Maverick Motley Cubes

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry. Maverick Motley designs are made by combining Maverick modules with Sonobe alpha and beta modules.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2015.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Belted Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 5 modules, three of one kind and 2 of another, from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2015.

Diagrams: Not yet available.

 
  Name: The Banded Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from symmetric, asymmetric or doubly assymetric banded modules folded from various paper shapes.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001. Tomoko Fuse and Francis Ow have produced similar designs.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Diagonally Banded Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 modules from symmetric, asymmetric or doubly assymetric banded modules folded from various paper shapes.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Doubly Banded Cube aka the Packing Case Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 24 modules from symmetric, asymmetric or doubly assymetric banded modules folded from various paper shapes.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Twisted Square Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 1989. Subsequently, in October 1990, Francis Ow sent me a copy of his privately published book on Modular Origami which also contains diagrams for this cube under the title Cube 3. I do not know which of us has priority.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Broken Square Cube - a variation of the Photo Frame Cube.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 6 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
  Name: The Whirlpool Cube

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: 12 modules from squares using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2001.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.

 
Novelty Cubes
 
  Name: The Yakkosan Cube is a version of the Playing Card Cube in which each face has been filled with a Yakkosan insert.

Modules / Paper shape / Folding geometry: Each Yakkosam is folded from a square using standard folding geometry.

Designer / Date: David Mitchell, 2018.

Diagrams: On-line diagrams are available on the Modular Designs page of this site.