2016 Lausanne Light Festival, LAVA Origami Tigers Switzerland, Swiss Architecture Festival

Digital Origami Tigers – 2016 Lausanne Light Festival

Festival Lumières: New Architecture in Switzerland design by LAVA Architects

25 Nov 2016

Digital Origami Tigers at 2016 Lausanne Light Festival

Location: Lausanne, west Switzerland

Digital Origami Tigers at 2016 Lausanne Light Festival, Lausanne

Design: LAVA

LAVA’s two digital origami tigers have jumped into the Festival Lausanne Lumières in Switzerland, which runs until 31 December 2016.

Designed by LAVA, the 2016 European Architectural Laureates, 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.

Stretched membranes are wrapped around a lightweight frame and pulsing light emanates from an LED powered heart bringing the sculptures to life. The tigers are 2.5 metres high and 7 metres long and use fully recyclable materials, aluminium and barrisol, a lightweight reusable stretch material.

They weigh only 80 kgs despite being the size of a four tonne truck. 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 in the design.

The tigers have roamed the globe since 2010, when they kicked off the lunar year of the tiger at Customs House in Sydney.

They have highlighted the endangered status of tigers since then – from San Francisco to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Berlin, Amsterdam, London and Strasbourg. Chris Bosse, LAVA director, is at the Festival and says: “Having studied in Lausanne in the 90s under some of the best Swiss architects, I am delighted to be back at the home of my formative years. I always liked Switzerland for its appreciation of culture, nature and technology.”

The tigers are one of 12 art works from Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands installed throughout Lausanne. The project continues LAVA’s mission in lightweight structures to build MORE WITH LESS.