A Hand-Folded Origami Wall Installation
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 PRODUCT DESIGN / Homeware & Decoration
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Gina Nagi
Client Name:BRGR
Photo Credit:Amin Shalaby
Project Location:O1 mall, New Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Design Status:Commercialized
Website: View
Product Description:
The 18,000-module origami wall installation at BRGR restaurant in Cairo represents a significant innovation in commercial interior art: a monumental, hand-folded geometric landscape that integrates structural engineering, environmental branding, and sustainable practice at architectural scale. 18,000 modules were folded by hand over 2 months. Each module required 60 seconds of precise folding and consistency as any variation will compromise in the interlocking structure. A total of 300 hours of folding modules aside from 180 hours of merging the modules together to create the final artwork.
The 18,000-module origami wall installation at BRGR restaurant in Cairo represents a significant innovation in commercial interior art: a monumental, hand-folded geometric landscape that integrates structural engineering, environmental branding, and sustainable practice at architectural scale. 18,000 modules were folded by hand over 2 months. Each module required 60 seconds of precise folding and consistency as any variation will compromise in the interlocking structure. A total of 300 hours of folding modules aside from 180 hours of merging the modules together to create the final artwork.
Product Innovation / Specification:
Modular origami wall constructed from 18,000 interlocked sonobe units—a classic origami module known for its ability to create complex, scalable geometric forms. Rather than superimposing the BRGR logo onto the artwork, the logo was embedded within the geometry itself. Through careful placement of colored modules, the brand emerges organically from the pattern, rewarding attentive viewers while maintaining abstract integrity. The sonobe module functions as a geometric pixel. By controlling color and placement across 18,000 units, any form—including the BRGR logo—can be rendered within a rigid grid. This creates a repeatable system for brand integration that can be adapted for future clients.
Modular origami wall constructed from 18,000 interlocked sonobe units—a classic origami module known for its ability to create complex, scalable geometric forms. Rather than superimposing the BRGR logo onto the artwork, the logo was embedded within the geometry itself. Through careful placement of colored modules, the brand emerges organically from the pattern, rewarding attentive viewers while maintaining abstract integrity. The sonobe module functions as a geometric pixel. By controlling color and placement across 18,000 units, any form—including the BRGR logo—can be rendered within a rigid grid. This creates a repeatable system for brand integration that can be adapted for future clients.
Product Sustainability Approach:
Material used is acid-free paper that was specified for its archival stability. Acid-free paper ensures the installation will last decades without yellowing or embrittlement. The most sustainable artwork is the one that never needs replacement. Acrylic spray is used to close the pores of the paper. The acrylic spray sealant, while a synthetic intervention, enables the paper to survive a restaurant environment. It prevents deterioration, eliminating future waste from replacement. If a single module is damaged, it can be replaced independently. No need to dismantle or discard the entire installation. The installation is formed entirely through folding—a low-energy, zero-waste process that generates no offcuts.
Material used is acid-free paper that was specified for its archival stability. Acid-free paper ensures the installation will last decades without yellowing or embrittlement. The most sustainable artwork is the one that never needs replacement. Acrylic spray is used to close the pores of the paper. The acrylic spray sealant, while a synthetic intervention, enables the paper to survive a restaurant environment. It prevents deterioration, eliminating future waste from replacement. If a single module is damaged, it can be replaced independently. No need to dismantle or discard the entire installation. The installation is formed entirely through folding—a low-energy, zero-waste process that generates no offcuts.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Product:
Fatma, a sudanese immigrant who has no previous folding experience supported in folding the modules after I trained her and over the days she worked with a quiet focus and natural perfectionism. During the process of merging / Interlocking the modules Samira, my dear friend and designer supported me in creating this massive artwork. Local installers for installing the huge paper artwork, where they had no experience working with paper before the BRGR wall. Since installation, the artwork has become a genuine social phenomenon in Cairo. It was featured prominently by Eklego, the interior design agency that commissioned the work, amplifying it within the professional design community. BRGR restaurant itself posted about the installation, celebrating it as a signature feature.
Fatma, a sudanese immigrant who has no previous folding experience supported in folding the modules after I trained her and over the days she worked with a quiet focus and natural perfectionism. During the process of merging / Interlocking the modules Samira, my dear friend and designer supported me in creating this massive artwork. Local installers for installing the huge paper artwork, where they had no experience working with paper before the BRGR wall. Since installation, the artwork has become a genuine social phenomenon in Cairo. It was featured prominently by Eklego, the interior design agency that commissioned the work, amplifying it within the professional design community. BRGR restaurant itself posted about the installation, celebrating it as a signature feature.
