In construction, the term folded plate structure describes a three-dimensional load-bearing structure assembled from thin-walled elements with flat surfaces. Folds that improve load-bearing properties are found not only in engineering but also in nature, for example in the leaf structures of flora.
Folded plate structures with the right kind of geometric design allow the realisation of complex spaces, expressive forms and self-supporting building envelopes using comparatively little material. Experimental prototypes have demonstrated new development opportunities. For the future, the development of a continuous digital process chain that covers everything from the parametric creation of the geometry, to structural design with finite element programs right up to fabrication is within reach. The potential of the ingenious and material-saving construction principle of folded plate structures and its architectural design freedom have yet to be fully exploited. (Stephan Engelsmann, Valerie Spalding)
Folded plate structures with the right kind of geometric design allow the realisation of complex spaces, expressive forms and self-supporting building envelopes using comparatively little material. Experimental prototypes have demonstrated new development opportunities. For the future, the development of a continuous digital process chain that covers everything from the parametric creation of the geometry, to structural design with finite element programs right up to fabrication is within reach. The potential of the ingenious and material-saving construction principle of folded plate structures and its architectural design freedom have yet to be fully exploited. (Stephan Engelsmann, Valerie Spalding)