origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, has captivated people worldwide with its intricate designs and stunning results. One of the most iconic structures to create through origami is the Eiffel Tower, a symbol of love and romance that stands tall in the heart of Paris. Whether you're an origami enthusiast or a beginner eager to learn, creating a paper Eiffel Tower is an exciting and rewarding project. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the steps to make an origami Eiffel Tower, ensuring you have a fantastic result to display or gift.
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions, let's gather the materials you'll need. For this project, you'll require a square piece of paper. While origami traditionally uses a specific size of paper, you can use any size you prefer. The larger the paper, the bigger your Eiffel Tower will be. Additionally, you may want to have a pencil and paper nearby to help you visualize the folds and creases as you go along.
Understanding the Basics of Origami
Before attempting to create an origami Eiffel Tower, it's essential to understand some fundamental origami techniques. Familiarizing yourself with these basic folds will make the process of creating your tower much smoother and more enjoyable.
One of the most crucial techniques in origami is the valley fold. A valley fold is created by folding the paper inwards, bringing the two edges together to form a 'V' shape. The resulting crease is called a valley crease. To perform a valley fold, place your thumbs on the edges of the paper and fold it inwards, using your other fingers to support the paper and maintain an even crease.
Valley Fold
To practice a valley fold, start with a square piece of paper. Fold it in half diagonally to create a triangle, then unfold it slightly to form a valley crease. Fold it in half again along the other diagonal, creating a smaller triangle with a valley crease running through it. Unfold the paper and notice the two valley creases intersecting in the center.
Another essential origami technique is the mountain fold. A mountain fold is the opposite of a valley fold, with the paper folded outwards, creating an 'M' shape. The resulting crease is called a mountain crease. To perform a mountain fold, place your thumbs on the edges of the paper and fold it outwards, using your other fingers to support the paper and maintain an even crease.
Mountain Fold
To practice a mountain fold, start with the same square piece of paper used for the valley fold. Fold it in half horizontally to create a rectangle, then unfold it slightly to form a mountain crease. Fold it in half again vertically, creating a smaller rectangle with a mountain crease running through it. Unfold the paper and notice the two mountain creases intersecting in the center.
Creating the Origami Eiffel Tower Base
Now that you're familiar with the basic origami techniques, it's time to start creating your Eiffel Tower. Begin by taking your square piece of paper and folding it in half diagonally to form a triangle. This will be the foundation for your tower.
Next, fold the triangle in half along the other diagonal, creating a smaller triangle. Unfold the paper slightly to form a valley crease, then refold it along the same line, creating a pocket. This pocket will help you create the base of your Eiffel Tower.
Forming the Base
To create the base, open the pocket you've just made and flatten the paper, creating a diamond shape. Fold the top two corners of the diamond down to the center point, then unfold them slightly to form valley creases. Fold the top two corners down again, this time to the bottom edge of the diamond, creating a kite shape.
Flip the paper over to the other side and repeat the same process, folding the top two corners down to the center point and then to the bottom edge. You should now have a kite shape with four flaps at the bottom. Fold these flaps up to the top edge of the kite, creating a square base for your Eiffel Tower.
Creating the Tower Structure
With the base of your Eiffel Tower complete, it's time to start building the tower itself. Begin by folding the top two corners of the square base down to the center line, creating two flaps. Fold these flaps in half, bringing the edges together to form a valley crease. Unfold the flaps slightly, then refold them, this time bringing the edges together to form a mountain crease.
Fold the top two corners of the square base down to the center line again, creating two new flaps. Fold these flaps in half, bringing the edges together to form a valley crease. Unfold the flaps slightly, then refold them, this time bringing the edges together to form a mountain crease. Repeat this process three more times, creating a total of six layers for your Eiffel Tower.
Refining the Origami Eiffel Tower Design
With the basic structure of your Eiffel Tower complete, it's time to refine the design and add some final touches. Begin by opening the top layer of the tower and flattening it, creating a square shape. Fold the top two corners of this square down to the center line, then unfold them slightly to form valley creases.
Fold the top two corners down again, this time to the bottom edge of the square. Flip the paper over to the other side and repeat the same process, creating a smaller square at the top of your Eiffel Tower. This will serve as the observation deck for your tower.
Creating the Observation Deck
To create the observation deck, fold the top two corners of the smaller square down to the center line, then unfold them slightly to form valley creases. Fold the top two corners down again, this time to the bottom edge of the square. Flip the paper over to the other side and repeat the same process, creating a even smaller square at the very top of your Eiffel Tower.
Fold the top two corners of this smallest square down to the center line, then unfold them slightly to form valley creases. Fold the top two corners down again, this time to the bottom edge of the square. This will create the final, smallest observation deck for your Eiffel Tower.
Adding the Final Touches
With the observation deck complete, it's time to add the final touches to your origami Eiffel Tower. Begin by folding the four corners of the base up to the center point, creating four flaps. Fold these flaps in half, bringing the edges together to form a valley crease. Unfold the flaps slightly, then refold them, this time bringing the edges together to form a mountain crease.
Fold the four corners of the base up to the center point again, creating four new flaps. Fold these flaps in half, bringing the edges together to form a valley crease. Unfold the flaps slightly, then refold them, this time bringing the edges together to form a mountain crease. Repeat this process three more times, creating a total of eight layers for the base of your Eiffel Tower.
Your origami Eiffel Tower is now complete! Display it with pride, knowing that you've created a beautiful and iconic symbol using nothing but a square piece of paper and your own two hands. Happy folding!