Constructions

This page shows various constructions I have made based on polyhedral symmetries. Most are not exactly polyhedral models, which are shown on the paper models page. For some computer-generated constructions (too hard to make physically) see my Pavilion of Polyhedreality, and for some more permanent materials, see my sculpture gallery.

Here is a pipe-cleaner construction based on the icosahedral symmetry group. Pipe cleaners are fast and easy to work with. I highly recommend playing with them, especially in a classroom.

This is one of a series of "spherical baskets" I once constructed. It is made of strips of colored paper glued into rings. (Have some paper clips handy to hold things together while under construction.)

This icosahedral construction is made of yellow paper.

Here is an intricate "weave," in which different "faces" are given different patterns. You need to see it in person to really get the idea.

This is a simple tensegrity dodecahedron made of straws and rubber bands. I wrote some instructions for you to make your own.

This tensegrity structure, based on the truncated icosahedron, is built from wooden coffee stirrers and dacron thread. The closeup shows how no two sticks touch each other.

From metal, you can make models which withstand rough handling (good for passing around a classroom). In front is a (welded steel) icosahedron, at left is a (soldered wire) rhombic triacontahedron, and at right is a (brazed copper) icosahedral construction (made of 30 rectangles of which two opposite edges were cut round).

This is a construction made of twelve pentagrams (parts of the great dodecahemidodecahedron or the great icosidodecahedron). It is made from twelve paper stars which are slit to slide into each other and lock together without glue or tape. I have written a page with instructions and other examples of this type.

Virtual Polyhedra, (c) 1997, George W. Hart