KiKi ARCHi's “Folding Paper” wins The Quad competition

Six teams competed in the final round of WHAT'S IN's The Quad competition, in hopes to be the designer of an installation that will serve as a central gathering space at the 2016 ArchitectureBoston Expo this November. Teams had to come up with creative fabrication and exhibition methods, while also take feasibility and construction costs into account. On top of that, the proposals — which will occupy a 20’ x 70’ area at the Expo — had to include a prominent display for WHAT'S IN's latest research findings.

The jury gave the winning commission to “Folding Paper” by Tokyo-based architecture practice KiKi ARCHi. The Runner-Up title went to “Pallet Bench” by Leonard Yui and Sahoko Yui, and Merge Architects' “Sonoscape” received an Honorable Mention.

Get a closer look at KiKi ARCHi's winning proposal below.

Folding Paper comprises of polypropylene paper modular units that are stabilized by cardboard tubes and secured in sequence with plastic zip ties. The units, which are vertically stacked and supported by slender timber frames, can then be rearranged to create various dynamic spaces. As the brief required, WHAT'S IN research will be integrated into the display. 

Out of the six finalist proposals, the jury picked Folding Paper for its inventive use of light-weight material, spatial quality, and its flexibility and simple fabrication technique.

The KiKi ARCHi team will be awarded US$5,000 to construct the installation in time for ArchitectureBostonExpo 2016. Afterward, the structure will move to the BSA Space until early 2017.