MOD59 - MODULAR ORIGAMI - XYZ BY FRANCIS OW (FROM 6 RECTANGLES)
Design: Francis Ow
Design: Francis Ow Place your rectangle in landscape orientation, with the short edges on the left and right. Bring the bottom right corner up to meet the top left corner. Rotate the model slightly to the right until the hinge fold is nearest you in a horizontal position. Focus on the bottom left edge of the shape and bring it straight over to align with the bottom right edge. Also unfold the fold from Step 2 so you have the rectangle again. Find the crease line that now runs from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of the rectangle. Next, fold the left edge of the rectangle upwards to align with the top edge. Crease and leave folded. Rotate the rectangle 180 degrees and repeat the previous step. Think of your parallelogram as two triangles, one on the left and one on the right. The line or slit where they come together should be vertical. Valley fold the model closed and in half along this crease. Next, focus on the left mountain and fold its back layer towards you as far as it will go. The front layer of paper will be your folding edge for this step. Unfold and tuck the folded-over edge just created so it disappears and comes to rest on the inside of the model. Flip the figure over from left to right and repeat the previous two steps. Find the vertical center of the long, skinny shape. Fold the entire left bottom edge upwards to align with the center vertical crease. Make a strong crease and leave folded. Flip the model over from left to right and repeat the previous step. Fold five more units, using rectangles of the same size and making sure that your long diagonal fold is always from top left to bottom right and that your rectangle is first folded with its left edge to the top edge and then with its right edge to the bottom edge. Understanding the Unit Pockets: Tabs: To prepare your units for Assembly, hold the unit with the pointed ends facing upward and allow the layers at the blunt corner to separate slightly. * Explanation: 18.1 Hold unit 1 horizontally, with its pockets on the left and the pointy ends facing right, while unit 2 will have its pointy ends facing left. * Explanation: 19.1 So, first pass unit 3 through the slit from the left and then unit 4 from the right, making sure the tabs of the units are arranged or switched so each tab has a pocket to slide into. * Explanation: 20.1 Rotate the assembly so that the only slit is horizontal. Assembly A should point to the floor/ceiling while Assembly B should point towards/away from you. Making origami accessible through text-based tutorials.
PDF diagram: A PDF diagram for this and many of Francis' other models are available from owrigami.com
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MODULAR ORIGAMI - XYZ BY FRANCIS OW (FROM 6 RECTANGLES)
A PDF diagram for this and many of Francis' other models are available from the following link: owrigami.com
Text-Only Tutorial: © 2026 by Lindy van der Merwe and accessorigami.com
With special thanks to James W. Peake of Foldspace Origami Studio foldspacestudio.com
Steps: 20
Folding Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Description: This modular creation is an origami figure constructed using 6 modules, showing what is known as intersecting planes. We can think of a "plane" is just a flat, two-dimensional surface, like a piece of paper. This brilliant design allows us to physically construct three surfaces where the units are woven together in such a way that they pass completely through each other, crossing at exactly one center point. The modules are vaguely teardrop-shaped with long pointy ends extending from the body of the unit. The finished model is an interesting-looking geometrical structure that will delight anyone who enjoys sculptures that are symmetrical and seem to be connected in mysterious ways.
If you are worried that you may need a math lesson before folding this model, the only terms you need to know or remind yourself about are the three axes that work together to build the three main planes of space:
To picture this without any math, just imagine sitting at your folding table: the X-axis runs horizontally from your left hand to your right, the Y-axis runs straight away from your stomach across the desk, and the Z-axis points straight up from the table toward the ceiling. When you assemble the modules, you are simply building one flat surface for each of these three directions, locking them together at a single central crossing point.
Keep in mind that there are many other models that may be (more or less) similar to this one and also designs representing more than just three planes, so you may come across models called WXYZ or VWXYZ, often referred to as "planar" models.
If you are looking to display your XYZ model on a stand, instructions for a Sturdy Stand by Annette Carr is available from the following link:
accessorigami.com
Paper to be used: Six 2x1 rectangles cut from 3 20 cm squares.
Paper clips may be helpful during construction.
Phase 1 - Folding Your First Unit
Step 1
Step 2
Make sure the points meet exactly. Crease and leave folded.
The outline of the model will now be an irregular pentagon or five-sided shape with a hinge fold that has formed on the bottom right.Step 3
This hinge fold now forms the bottom edge and one side of the pentagon.Step 4
We are folding the entire shape in half from left to right, so it will be symmetrical.
Make a strong crease on the left and then unfold.Step 5
It should still be in landscape orientation.Step 6
You will notice that one half of this crease is a valley and the other a mountain fold.
Pick up your model and fold it closed and in half along the mentioned crease in order to turn the entire crease into a valley fold.
Once the entire crease is a valley fold, unfold to the rectangle again, keeping it in landscape orientation.Step 7
Step 8
We have created a parallelogram.Step 9
With the paper in this position, find the long valley crease we created in Step 7 again. It will now be at the back of the model, stretching all the way from the top left corner to the bottom right corner of the parallelogram.Step 10
When the paper is placed on the table, it will form a long, skinny shape that has a hinged edge at the bottom with two points at the top, resembling a flat mountain range. The left mountain will seem to hide behind the right mountain.Step 11
Step 12
The top left edge will now feel smooth from the outside of the model.Step 13
You will now have a flat, long, multi-layered shape with its base nearest you.Step 14
Step 15
Step 16
Take care to make these last folds as straight as possible, but leaving a very small gap between the two folded pointy ends.
Your unit is completed.Phase 2 - Fold More Units
If, on some modules, these folds are done on opposite edges or corners, the units will not fit together and your assembly will not work out.Phase 3 - Assembly
Step 17
Use your finger to feel for the true pocket and gently poke inside it; this slightly curves the front edge and opens the pocket, making it much easier for the connecting tabs to slide in later.
Repeat this opening technique for every unit before trying to join them together.
The final model requires six units in total, which are grouped into three pairs to form the X, Y, and Z axes.
We will call these groups Assembly A, B and C for the following steps.Step 18 - Assembly A
To join the first two units, hold them horizontally so their skinny points are facing one another.
Place one unit directly on top of the other to get the correct starting orientation.
Connecting them requires a weaving motion where the long, skinny tabs of each unit slide into the true pockets of the other.
Because each unit has two tabs and two pockets, you must carefully reorganize the layers to manage four simultaneous tab-into-pocket connections (top, bottom, front, and back) to lock the pair together.
18.2 Place unit 1 on top of unit 2.
18.3 Working with the tab furthest away from you, insert it into the pocket of unit 2, on the right.
18.4 Make sure the tab goes into the real pocket and anchor this insertion with your right hand for the moment.
18.5 Now, focusing on the two tabs nearest you, reverse their positions so the tab of unit 2 is now on the front of the assembly while that of unit 1 will have moved to the back or underneath the model as you are holding it.
18.6 Insert the tab of unit 2 into the pocket of unit 1, on the left.
Result: Two tabs will now be inserted into two pockets on this side of the assembly.
18.7 Carefully flip the model over sideways so you can work on the other side now.
18.8 Repeat two insertions of tabs into pockets on this side.
Assembly A is completed.Step 19 - Assembly B
At the center of Assembly A you will find a slit.
Our next two units will be joined in the exact same way, but with the two units first needing to pass through the slit of the assembly we have constructed so far.
19.2 Carefully do all four insertions.
Assembly B is completed.
Result: You will now have two more modules joined into the slit of the first two, representing two planes so far.Step 20 - Assembly C
To complete the model, the last two modules are now inserted to represent the third plane.
20.2 Hold unit 5 on the left and unit 6 will be held on the right.
20.3 Pass unit 5 through the slit from the left and then unit 6 from the right, making sure the tabs of the units are once again arranged or switched so each tab has a pocket to slide into.
These last two units will enclose two other units as they are inserted, completing Assembly C.
The model is completed.
If you rotate it in your hands so that one of the three "planes" of the model is horizontal or in front of you from left to right, you will now be able to recognize that there is also a piece of the model that is oriented from top to bottom and a third that will be stretching from a point nearest you to one furthest away. These three parts of the model represent the X, Y and Z planes, respectively.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled: September 2026
This text is © 2026 by accessorigami.com and the authors.