Fragile Beasts by Students from Łódź University of Technology
“The Fragile Beasts ” is a curve-folded paper sculpture made by 17 undergraduate architecture students of Łódź University of Technology, Poland. The delicate sculpture was designed during a three day workshop led by Suryansh Chandra, a senior designer at Zaha Hadid Architects (Code group) and fabricated in an astonishing time of less than ten hours.
Courtesy of Łódź University of Technology
The thin-shell structure made of 0.5 mm thick card paper was augmented using digital modeling software and computational algorithms. The parametric morphology of a slender polyhedral form was generated and further subjected to scripts, which broke down the geometry into forms suitable for curved folding.
Later on the design was transferred onto a fabrication of flat cutout sheets which took five hours at a laser-cutting facility. Finally the kit of part was assembled, glued and shape by the students to demonstrate the structural property of the generative process. The elements reached a height of 1.9 meters and were stacked in a topological arrangement of two clusters. The entire structure conferred its own shapes to formulate a quick assembly and delineated the substantial stiffness of the frail material.
Courtesy of Łódź University of Technology
The workshop was a continuation of the lineage of work that started two years ago for ZHA’s Arum Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which is described by the firm as the first to combine its research into lightweight shells and tensile structures.
It resembled a huge pleated funnel that was made from folded metal. Zaha Hadid Architects has been exploring new design techniques of curved folding in Architecture since then through a series of academic workshops and commissions.
Different applications for curved folding and thin-shell structures have led to some astounding outcomes that are pre-rationalized by their very nature and “Fragile Beasts” definitely marks its ethos towards the contemporary architectural movement in the current time.
Courtesy of Łódź University of Technology
Project info & Credits:
Anetta Kepczynska-Walczak | Assistant Professor, Łódź University of Technology, Poland
Sebastian Bialkowski | Doctoral Candidate, Łódź University of Technology, Poland
Suryansh Chandra | Senior Designer, ZHA | Code, London
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.