Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, formed the inspiration for the tunnel that connected two exhibition hangars at the furniture fair in Kortrijk in 2006.

Folding thick translucent paper in a certain way made it possible to make the structure strong enough to build a self-supporting tunnel. The process begins with a flat sheet of paper that is scored in a mathematically calculated pattern. This makes it possible to construct the tunnel from flat sections which are folded and put together on site. A floor is then installed that helps keep the structure together.

Xile received the Forum AID Award for best Nordic interior design 2008. Xile is a further development of Mats Karlsson’s graduation project from Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design.

Size: 180 m²
Program: Connecting tunnel at furniture fair
Location: Kortrijk
Status: Finished