The engineering of depth: how to build a city in paper
In short: Creating a three-dimensional city from a flat sheet of cardstock relies on a series of precise, layered incisions. By manipulating how paper folds and pushes forward, you can transform a simple fold into a complex architectural landscape that reveals itself as the card opens.
The construction of a pop-up city relies on the principle of layered depth. The process begins with a base piece of cardstock folded in half. Instead of creating a single large mechanism, the city is built by cutting multiple wide layers out of the base page. Each layer represents a different plane of distance, creating the illusion of a sprawling urban environment when the card is opened.
A key technique involves the 'push' method. While the card remains folded, a wide layer is cut and then pushed forward toward the viewer. This creates the initial structural depth. To add complexity, subsequent layers are cut from the newly established surface. The creator must ensure these layers are even and do not cut all the way through to the edge of the previous layer, maintaining the integrity of the paper's structure.
Nuance is added through intentional asymmetry and varied movement. Some layers are designed to pop forward, while others are engineered to pop inward, providing a sense of interior space. For example, a small incision can be made to create an unequal layer that finds its own fold automatically when pushed and creased. Finally, the city is populated by 'double-sticking' pre-cut shapes onto these layers, trimming them down to ensure they fit the desired proportions of the skyline.
This method demonstrates how simple geometry—folding, cutting, and pushing—can simulate complex spatial relationships. By varying the height of the buildings and the direction of the layers, the maker controls the viewer's perspective, turning a two-dimensional medium into a navigable, three-dimensional scene.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Make a City Pop-Up Card | Pop-Up Cards
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