3. THE APPLICATION OF FOLDED STRUCTURES
Folded structures have found the application in architectural buildings and engineering
structures. Based on the position in the architectural structure, this type of construction can
be divided into: roof, floor and wall folded constructions. In engineering structures, bridges
and retaining walls, various structural elements can be constructed on the principle of folded
structures. The principle of greater stiffness of individual constructive element, by the
introduction of folded form, has found application in many consumer products.
The largest number of examples of folded structures are roof structures. The need for
acquiring the larger range and more cost effective structure led to the emergence of this
type of structure. The development of spatial structures led to the exceptional formal
solutions which directly influenced the aesthetics and visual identity of the building.
One of the most significant buildings constructed as folded form is the Chapel at the
Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, in the USA (Fig. 4). The author is the architect
Walter Netsch. The basic construction of this facility consists of triangular plates - metal
panels forming folded construction. The structure consists of 100 tetrahedral elements
brought from the workshop and assembled on site. At the time when the facility was built
it was disputed by the professional community, but later became an example of modern
architecture in the USA.