Folds
Project type: Pavilion
Date: Spring 2026
Area: 16,000 sq ft / Location: 2801 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703
Course: ARCH 100B / Studio: Kei Takanami
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Folds is a 16,000 square foot pavilion located in Berkeley, California situated between a super market, large streets, and housing. Through the use of three interconnected square-folded masses, this project aims to evoke a sense of curiosity to explore of the entire structure through different forms of circulation.
Folds is strategically situated nearby the super market across the street given it is the main attraction. Within the site, a large portion of the site is kept as an open field for recreation. The hatches demonstrate pedestrian density with the West direction receiving more traffic compared to the East.
Pedestrians can explore the structure by going on, in, and under the three forms. This is seen with the far-east largest square having a staircase for users to walk on the mass towards a viewing platform at the top. The central square is suspended upwards for users to go underneath and experience the spatial conditions of a folded roof. Finally, the small square at the far-west has an integrated observatory for users to go inside of the square to get to the top.
To continue the language of the square, Folds uses bench placements to form a perfect square from an bird's eye view.
Formal exploration models. Early origami square inspiration.
