Two Digital Origami Tigers started their 2010 world travels playfully celebrating Chinese New Year at Customs House, Sydney in February, went to Kuala Lumpur as part of KL Design Week, Berlin for the WWF awareness campaign, Singapore as part of the i‐Light Marina Bay Festival and to the USA.
The crouching digital tigers combine ancient lantern making methods with cutting edge digital design and fabrication technology, bringing east and west together through tradition and innovation. The big cats were a collaboration between LAVA and Customs House to mark the lunar year of the tiger and raise awareness about the endangered status of tigers.
Photo © David Biene
The tigers are inspired by “zhezhi”, a Chinese term for paper folding, more popularly known by its Japanese name “origami”. Traditional Chinese lantern makers in Sichuan province, where lantern making has been taking place for over 800 years and local artisans were consulted.
The tigers are the size of a boat at 2.5 metres high and 7 metres long yet weigh only 200kgs and use fully recyclable materials, aluminium and barrisol, a new light weight reusable stretch material. Pulsating low energy LED lighting brings the sculptures to life. The project continues LAVA’s mission in lightweight structures to build MORE WITH LESS. Source by LAVA.
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA
- Location: Sydney (Australia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Berlin (Germany), Singapore, San Francisco (USA)
- Architect: LAVA
- Costruction: Sydney Stretch Ceilings
- Size: 2.5 metres high and 7 metres long; weight 200kgs
- Date: 2010 ‐ 2011
- Photographs: David Biene, Courtesy of LAVA
Photo © David Biene 
Photo © David Biene 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA 
Photo Courtesy of LAVA
