Evermore
Origamic Architecture

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Many of these books are now out-of-print or, are not distributed in the U.S.A. and Europe. If you are unable to find specific titles, we may be able to special-order them from our suppliers. Call or email us with the titles of the books you want and we will respond with pricing and availability.

3D Pop-Up Greeting Cards

Japan Publications Trading / Paperback / Published September 15, 2006

The latest from Keiko Nakazawa inlcudes 60 patterns for garden scenes, flowers, seasonal and holiday designs, kabuki motifs, scenes from old Japan, abstract designs based on the theme of light and shadow, scenes from life, popular animals, and gift cards.

Advanced Patterns Origamic Architecture

This book has patterns for many of the popular OA-style pop-up cards from Hilltop Studios. Three of the four planned volumes are now available.

Architectural Origami: Create Models of the World's Great Buildings

Ingrid Siliakus, Maria "Marivi" Victoria Garrido Bianchini and, Joyce Aysta / Spiral-Bound Hardcover / Published February 2009

This gorgeous book starts with several pages of basic and general assembly instructions. However, each model includes detailed construction directions, along with detailed notes and statistics about the real structures. There are, of course, photos of the buildings and, excellent-quality full-page photos of the completed OA models.

Good OAers clearly had a hand in the book design. Being hard-covered spiral-bound, it lays nice and flat. Pattern pages collected in the back of the book are perforated for easy removal.

All three authors have announcements on their sites with additional details, including lists of all the patterns in the book. The authors are also selling signed copies directly from their sites. For more see: [Ingrid Siliakus] [Joyce Aysta] [María Victoria Garrido Bianchini].

Note that this book is also being sold in the U.S.A. with a different title: The Paper Architect: Fold-It-Yourself Buildings and Structures.

Bam Citadel: A Three Dimensional Commemorative

Hamid N. Zadeh / Hardcover / Published 2006

Origamic architecture pop-ups recreate Bam Citadel, an ancient Persian architectural wonder, in twelve laser-cut pop-ups. Each pop-up is accompanied by a color photo of the actual location and, text describing the function and history of that part of the citadel. This is an actual OA-style pop-up book, not a pattern book. Each spiral-bound hardback is wrapped in a full color dust jacket and boxed. This is a limited edition of only 1,200 copies. This work is a labor of love and, a treasure for the OA enthusiast

California Missions Volume 1 and 2

Hamid N. Zadeh / Hardcover / Published 2007

Pop-ups of 21 (10 in volume 1, 11 in volume 2) original California missions founded by the Franciscan missionaries during the 18th century. Each pop-up is accompanied by color photos of the actual mission, and text describing the history of that mission. This is an actual OA-style pop-up book, not a pattern book. Each spiral-bound hardback is wrapped in a full color dust jacket and boxed. This work is a labor of love and, a treasure for the OA enthusiast

Four Seasons of Origamic Architecture

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1984

This book has a lot of text designs, both in English and Japanese. There are 20 full-size patterns in the collection but, there are 79 more reduced-size patterns. Most of the designs are pretty simple and are suited for intermediate origamic architects.

Fractal Cuts

Diego Uribe / Paperback / Published 1994

A book of fractals turned into 90-degree OA-style pop-up cards.

Great American Buildings:
Origami Cutouts of Everybody's Favorite Landmarks

Masahiro Chatani, Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1991

Great American buildings is larger than the other OA books by Professor Chatani, coming in at 14 1/4 by 10 1/8 inches. There are 25 patterns, all but two being of the 90-degree style. All of the buildings are in the United States of America and are weighted heavily toward New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. There are architectural and historic notes, as well as model construction tips, for each of the designs. The usual construction instructions are included and an End Note in which Professor Chatani comments on architecture in the U.S.A.

Heartful Cards

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published ? / 4-277-75306-X

I have not seen this book myself. Everything I know about it is here. If you know more, please let me know.

How to Make Pop-Ups

Joan Irvine, Barbara Reid (Illustrator) / Paperback / Published March 1988

How to Make Super Pop-Ups

Joan Irvine, Linda Hendry (Illustrator) / Paperback / Published 1992

Igigen Greeting Cards

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published ? / 4-277-75317-5

I have not seen this book myself. Everything I know about it is here. If you know more, please let me know.

Key to Origamic Architecture

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1985 by Shokokusha

This difficult-to-find book includes 40 different patterns, mostly of the 180-degree type, including the famous Cathedral, Casablanca, and Golden Gate Bridge designs. There are also a number of abstract, tessellation-style designs. Not all of the designs include full-size patterns. Some are presented at smaller sizes. A section in the front features photos of various OA cards sent to Professor Chatani by other enthusiasts. A comparatively long section at the end of the book includes a history of OA (up until the book's publication in 1985) and outlines techniques for creating new OA designs. Note that the details of this book (binding, publisher, publication date, etc.) are not correct on some commercial sites.

Kirigami: Exquisite Projects to Fold and Cut

Jeffrey Rutzky / Paperback / Published August 2007 by Barnes & Noble

While the first part of Jeffrey Rutzky's new book covers more traditional kirigami (flat, cut paper designs), a major portion of the book is dedicated to origamic architecture. There are models from several OA designers, including Eric Gjerde, Keiko Nakazawa, Masahiro Chatani, Ramin Razani, René Bui, Laura Badalucco, Magdalena Jonikas, Chris Hankinson, Jagoda Djuran, Tatyana Stolyarova, and Willem Boning. Background and explanatory text mentions several others, along with pictures of some of their work. There is also an excellent resources section. The patterns are geared toward beginners and have a little more detail in the instructions than the typical OA pattern book.

Magic House

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published ? / ISBN 4-277-75301-9

I have not seen this book myself. Everything I know about it is here. If you know more, please let me know.

Magic House 2

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published ? / ISBN 4-277-75321-3

I have not seen this book myself. Everything I know about it is here. If you know more, please let me know.

Ondori Pop-Up Origamic Architecture

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1985

This one has a number of constructed pop-up cards. Unlike most of the origamic architecture, these are created from several sheets of paper and assembled. The sphere, pagoda, pond lily, and Tower of Babel are nice. There are a few interesting abstract designs and a couple of nice architectural pieces (a Greco-Roman "Open-Air Theatre," the Tower of Babel, and a band shell.) The animals in this one are all of the same style, one I find rather disappointing.

Origami Architecture:
American Houses Pre-Colonial to Present

Masahiro Chatani, / Paperback / Published 1988

The patterns in this book are all of the single-sheet, cut-and-folded variety. Some of them, such as the Carson Mansion are deliciously complex. Of particular note are the Carson Mansion, Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water, and Peter Eisenman's House IV. What makes this book a must-have is Chatani's 2-page section on origamic architecture pop-up card design. He details a step-by-step procedure to be used in modeling a building for origamic architecture.

Origamic Architecture: Cards for All Seasons

Masahiro Chatani and Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1998

This book has 46 patterns including 12 180-degree floral designs, 6 0-degree cards, 8 multi-piece 180-degree flowers, 6 90-degree floral designs, 3 multi-piece 180-degree Chinese zodiac designs based on the sphere and box designs, a horizontal-format 90-degree dragon, and a number of stylized playful animal designs (90 and 180 degree). This book will have something for a range of skills. Some of the designs have complex outlines but, are fairly tolerant of minor errors, making them suitable for beginners. The multi-piece designs are definitely advanced. I would not recommend this one as a first origamic architecture book for those who do not read Japanese since there are no English translations.

Origamic Architecture from Building to Card

Ingrid Siliakus / Paperback / Published 2002

This is a collection of exquisite pop-up card patterns by artist Ingrid Siliakus. Her work was recently featured in an exhibit at the American Craft Museum in New York, alongside that of other OA luminaries. It drew rave reviews.

In addition to the intricately detailed patterns, the book features clear, step-by-step instructions for constructing the cards and colorful historical notes and commentary by the author.

The book includes patterns for a Canal House, Our Blessed Lady Cathedral of Antwerp, City Hall of Brugges, Central Station Amsterdam, Museum of Groningen, Saint Hubert Hunting Lodge, NEMO, Rietveld-Schröder House, Watergate of Sneek, and the Houses of Parliament in The Hague.

There are pictures of the finished cards on the book's promotional page.

Origami Architecture from Building to Card, with a full English translation of the text, is available on-line through the Pop Up Card Shop.

Origamic Architecture Goes Modern
Building Masterpieces

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1991

Professor Masahiro Chatani's 8th book chronicles the works of a number of modern architects in OA. Eight is a number expressing increasing fortune and prosperity in traditional Japanese culture. It is clear that a lot of effort and attention went into this book and the designs within. Professor Chatani has made a hobby of reproducing the works of various master architects in OA and seeking their signatures. This book includes 16 normal OA patterns, and more than 75 reduced-size patterns. There is also a chronological table of architects with their signature status in Professor Chatani's collection as of 1991. In addition to the usual instructions on constructing the models, there are some brief comments on technique for designing your own. Though many of the designs in this book will require moderate to advanced skill levels to construct, it would make a fine addition to any OA collection.

Origamic Architecture Goes
World Famous Buildings

Masahiro Chatani and Takaaki Kihara / Paperback / Published 1999

This book includes patterns for 66 different cards depicting the world-famous buildings described in the title. Professor Kihara has contributed particularly detailed instructions for constructing the cards, including very precise specifications for recommended materials and tools. This book also introduces a new style of 180-degree card created by cutting and raising portions of the base, and brief instructions for an embossing technique. Note that the title of this book does not link to an Amazon.com purchase page.

Origamic Architecture:
Tour of Kyoto

Masahiro Chatani and Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1994

This book has 55 patterns from around Kyoto, Japan. There are a couple of 180-degree flowers, some landscapes, abstracts, three statues of Bosatsu (a Buddhist saint), a mounted samurai, several mon (Japanese family crests), three Noh theater masks, famous temples and other structures. There are notes about the designs in both English and Japanese. There are also short bios of Professors Chatani and Nakazawa, including a list of exhibitions and publications, and the traditional construction instructions. A few of the designs are probably suitable for beginners while most are in the intermediate skill range.

Origamic Architecture:
Tour of Nara, Ancient Capital of Japan

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1994

If you like traditional Japanese architecture, this is the OA book for you! Thirty-three patterns reflect the titular subject in temples, shrines, statuary, and nature scenes. The designs reflect the classic, clean lines of the traditional Japanese aesthetic. This is a great book, if you can find it.

Origamic Architecture Around the World

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1987

In this sixth volume of Masahiro Chatani's origamic architecture work, he presents 24 patterns for buildings all over the world. Most (21) are the traditional 90-degree style, while 3 are of the new 180-degree style. Among the designs are the well-know Disneyland Castle of Sleeping Beauty and the Statue of Liberty. In his stream-of-consciousness Prologue, Professor Chatani reminisces about some of his international travels and its influence on the philosophy behind his origamic architecture work.

The Paper Architect: Fold-It-Yourself Buildings and Structures

Ingrid Siliakus, Maria "Marivi" Victoria Garrido Bianchini and, Joyce Aysta / Spiral-Bound Hardcover / Published February 2009

This gorgeous book starts with several pages of basic and general assembly instructions. However, each model includes detailed construction directions, along with detailed notes and statistics about the real structures. There are, of course, photos of the buildings and, excellent-quality full-page photos of the completed OA models.

Good OAers clearly had a hand in the book design. Being hard-covered spiral-bound, it lays nice and flat. Pattern pages collected in the back of the book are perforated for easy removal.

All three authors have announcements on their sites with additional details, including lists of all the patterns in the book. The authors are also selling signed copies directly from their sites. For more see: [Ingrid Siliakus] [Joyce Aysta] [María Victoria Garrido Bianchini].

Note that this book is also being sold in Europe with a different title: Architectural Origami: Create Models of the World's Great Buildings

Paper Engineering for Pop-Up Books and Cards

Mark Hiner / Paperback / Published 1986

Paper Magic : Pop-Up Paper Craft

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1988

This one contains patterns for 12 different castles and palaces (Japanese and European,) various abstract forms, flowers and animals, and all of the names of the months. I'm not as fond of the flowers and animals in this one but, the castles and palaces are exceptional and several of the abstract forms are quite impressive. This one is worth it just for the castles!

A Paradise of Origamic Architecture

Paperback / Published 1989

A Paradise of Origamic Architecture

Masahiro Chatani, Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1989

This book has 33 patterns, mostly animals, insects, and plants. There are six 180-degree multi-piece flower designs. Includes a section titled "News from the World of Origamic Architecture" with Masahiro Chatani's comments on his reception in the European Origami community and his hopes for the future of architecture and origamic architecture. That section includes a few small black-and-white photos of cards created by other OA artists. A lot of the designs are suitable for beginner to intermediate skill levels, the 180-degree multi-piece flowers are definitely a bit more advanced.

Pattern Sheets of Origamic Architecture

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1986
(Out of Print)

This is my favorite of the Chatani books I've seen. The designs in this one are exquisite! It's hard to even pick out favorites. The top five would be the Butterfly, beautiful in it's Japanese austerity; Cascade, an abstraction of a waterfall; Blocks, "triangular abstractions of a cube"; Cliff House, reminiscent of the pueblos of the Southwestern United States; and Water Gate, not the hotel but, based on a design for a house that would control the flow of a river, developed by a French architect named Ledoux during the reign of Louis 16.

Pattern Sheets of Origamic Architecture Vol 2

Masahiro Chatani, Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1986

This book is similar in style to volume 1 and includes 29 patterns. There are 17 90-degree designs, 8 multi-piece 180-degree designs, 2 180-degree designs, and 2 multi-piece 360-degree designs. Hilights include the Ponte di Rialto, Venezi; Kiss; and Diagonal Steps patterns. There is a short (3 page) instructional section with comments on specific patterns but, no other lengthy text (only a one-paragraph Prologue and a one-sentence Epilogue).

Pop-O-Mania : How to Create Your Own Pop-Ups

Barbara Valenta / Textbook Binding / Published May 1997

Pop-Up!: A Manual of Paper Mechanisms

Duncan Birmingham / Paperback / Published October 1999

Pop-Up Best Greeting Cards

Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1995

Ms. Nakazawa's solo effort includes a large number of multi-piece constructions.

Paul Jackson, Paul Forrester / Paperback / April 1994

This book is an excellent introduction to pop-up engineering techniques. There are a handful of patterns but, quite a bit of detail on designing cards. It covers OA-style techniques as well as more traditional pop-up techniques.

Pop Up Cards for All Occasions

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1991
(Hard to Find)

Pop-Up Geometric Origami

Masahiro Chatani, Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1994

This seventh book in the Pop-Up Paper Craft series contains patterns for 40 abstract designs. There are 5 180-degree "loop" style cards, all variations on a theme. There are 3 variants of an 180-degree crystal design. The rest are multi-piece constructions, including spheres, cubes, pyramids, an egg, shapes that act as stands for some of the other designs, and composite shapes. The traditional construction instructions are included. This is definitely a book for the advanced OAer. Multi-piece designs require precision construction and can be very challenging to get just right.

Pop-Up Gift Cards

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1988

This one is mostly multi-piece and 180° constructions but, there are a few nice abstract one-piece designs as well.

Pop-Up Greeting Cards:
A Creative Personal Touch for Every Occasion

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1986

An excellent collection of abstract one-piece origamic architecture designs. I highly recommend this one.

The Pocket Paper Engineer: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step

Carol Barton / Hardcover / Popular Kinetics Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2005)

An introductory workbook covering very basic pop-up mechanisms. Although this is targeted at children and scrapbookers, some of the mechanisms are applicable to origamic architecture design.

Pre-Cut Greeting Cards

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published ? / 4-277-75309-4

I have not seen this book myself. Everything I know about it is here. If you know more, please let me know.

Stairs

Rein Jansma & Joost Elffers / Hardcover / Published October 1999

This book contains 10 carefully-crafted pieces representing staircases. Rein Jansma is a well-known architect in the Netherlands and co-owner of the architectural firm, Zwarts & Jansma. Among other projects, his office has designed the Dutch Pavilion at the 1992 World Exhibition in Spain and the expansion of the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam. This is an exhibition book, not a pattern book.

Super Origami

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1991 / ISBN 4-06-100382-8 / ¥ 980

I have not seen this book myself. Everything I know about it is here. If you know more, please let me know.

Super-Origami: the Remains

Masahiro Chatani / Paperback / Published 1994 / ISBN 4-06-100393-3 / ¥ 980

This Japanese-language book doesn't seem to be easily available in the U.S. It may be possible to order it through Sasuga, Kinokunia (415)567-7625 (San Francisco location,) or from the JACCC gift shop in L.A.

White Christmas:
Create Your Own Cards and Decorations

Masahiro Chatani, Keiko Nakazawa / Paperback / Published 1989

White Christmas has 20 Christmas-themed patterns (all but about three having overt Christian religious symbolism). Most of the designs are appropriate for beginner to intermediate skill levels. There are notes on the symbolism and construction tips for each design in addition to the usual general construction instructions. Some of the patterns are even pre-cut. Keiko Nakazawa's introduction details her initial exploration of origamic architecture and the development of the "new 180-degree" style of card. There is also an afterword by Masahiro Chatani discussing his introduction of origamic architecture to the the Japanese architecture community at a conference in 1981 and their collective hope that it would help increase awareness of the artistic aspect of architecture in the general populous. If you are looking to make holiday cards, this is a great pattern book. Unfortunately, it is currently out-of-print and somewhat difficult to obtain.