The popularity of origami isn't limited to cranes and crafts. It has become a real trend in building and interior design. The basic principles of the Japanese art of paper-folding can be applied to any discipline that sticks to what one retail-design professional describes as the fundamental goal: creating three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional sheets. Aluminium, in many cases, is perfect for that job.

Enter Make Architects, a nearly 15-year-old firm spearheaded by internationally recognized designer Ken Shuttleworth that takes pride in a sustainable vision for creating spaces. That was the idea when the Make design firm in London created origami kiosks, meant for food vendors or holiday artisans who need what is usually a temporary or mobile structure in a festive setting.

Alas, far too often these vendors face limited options and end up in boxy shelters or unappealing, noisy trucks. The Make team wanted to create kiosks that would add beauty to an event or a market, inspiring the guests with an elegant sense of form as well as function. The clean lines of origami – both sophisticated and a work of simplicity at the same time – provided the artistic tradition that served as a starting point.

The origami kiosks were made from aluminium and were based on real origami paper models that were used throughout the design process. The design team came up with a folding shell plan for kiosks that open like paper fans, with hinged aluminium panels that all radiate from a single point.

When unfolded, their geometric patterns look something like folding bells and other vintage paper party decorations that worked the same way. Yet when closed, the pleated diamonds remain in the design and the exterior is powder-coated to insulate it from the damage of vandals, weather or other elements. If the kiosk is left in its location at an urban park or sporting venue, it essentially serves as public art.

The aluminium was chosen because of its light weight and reliable performance. Since the kiosks need to be easy to open without heavy lifting – and even easier to move because they are portable – it was the only material the Make designers trusted to faithfully re-create the folded paper kiosks they envisioned.

Participants at a wellness fair or an artisan market might use them instead of tents or tables. The origami shelter – in its own way bearing a resemblance to a miniature outdoor band clamshell – can also be used by a DJ to play music, an urban planner to use as a pop-up display on sustainability in tactical urbanism, or a small business serving coffee and other beverages.