Folding in Architecture

Front view of the New York Department of Sanitation building in Tribeca

A popular technique in architecture is titled folding, as it starts by folding, scoring and cutting paper to create structures that look very unique and angular. These designs can then be translated into buildings on a much larger scale to create stunning structures that really stand out due to their very precise sides and edges. This technique is a basic principal in architecture that creates structure for the building and also lets the architect plan the amount of light that enters the building and the direction at which it does so.

A view of the Salt Shed to the right of the DSNY building

This is represented in a fairly new building in Tribeca, which is the main facility of the New York Department of Sanitation(DSNY). The outermost walls of the DSNY act as a facade for the building while still allowing its incredibly important function to be carried out smoothly. The DSNY building has two main examples of this folding technique, seen in the salt shed, and the massive garages. The main rectangular building contains the garages for the many garbage trucks and plows needed to be stored there daily. This building is made up of a glassy upper section which is covered in custom metal sunshades, which, depending on the time of year, can change their orientation throughout the day to block glare through the windows of the building while still allowing optimal amounts of natural light to filter in. On top of that, the salt shed is a work of art that represents the thousands of tons of salt crystals stored inside, by being a crystalline shape itself.

Folding is a powerful concept that creates unity in buildings and many other pieces of artwork, which results in these pieces having modern and innovative facades that are stunning to observe.