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Tudor House
Origami Book Project

© Kosakowski Studio, 2020

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HISTORY OF TUDOR ARCHITECTURE

The “Tudor Style” is a type of medieval British architecture that uses exposed timber beams as
a structural and decorative element of a building (also known as “half-timbering”). It is known as
the Tudor style because it coincides with the reign of the Tudor monarchs from 1485–1603.
The decorative beams were inspired by Renaissance and Gothic architectural designs. These
features separated this style from common Medieval and 17th-century designs.

Some of the earliest recorded timber houses were found in the United Kingdom, with several
dating back to the Neolithic Period (or late Stone Age roughly 12,000 years ago). Half-timber
architecture is most commonly seen in Germany, but it can also be found in France, Poland,
and other European countries. However, when looking closely, you can often spot the regional
differences in the decorative beams.

Tudor Style
Tudor style architecture in Chester, Cheshire, Eng.
© Jeff Dalton/Shutterstock.com
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TOOLS & MATERIALS

• 1 sheet of A4 or letter size paper (thin cardstock preferred)

• Brown or black paper cut into thin strips ( 1/4” & 1/2 “ strips were used in the example)

• Glue stick or other adhesive

• Scissors or X-acto blade

• Pencil, cutting mat and ruler

• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers (I used watercolor paint for the roof of the example)

• Bone Folder (optional)

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ORIGAMI HOUSE INSTRUCTIONS

(Citation: Creating Handmade Books by Alisa Golden)
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1. Fold the paper in half widthwise. You may use printed paper or colored cardstock instead
of white paper. If you choose to do that, be sure that the colored side is facing down.

2. Keep the paper folded in half, then fold it into quarters. This will be more difficult with
thicker cardstock. If needed, use a bone folder or similar tool to create a clean crease.

3. Open up the paper and fold the top and bottom edge into the middle. You should have 3
valley folds on this side.

4. Put your finger under the edge of the top fold and pull the paper down while holding the
valley fold. When the paper edge aligns with the center fold, crease two diagonals to make
a triangular shape.

5. Repeat on the other side of the book

6. To put this into an envelope, fold in the outside ends on the existing folds to make the
house into a rectangle.

7. Begin creating your own Tudor style home using strips of black paper and a glue stick. You
may cut thinner strips for window panes or other paneling. I suggest using your pencil to
mark odd angles before cutting the diagonal pieces. If needed, use a bone folder or similar
tool to apply pressure when gluing the pieces down.

8. If you feel stuck with a design, I suggest looking at local examples and other references of
Tudor architecture (see examples below). Experiment with diagonal lines and other
decorative elements to make a unique design.

9. I used a mixture of black and burnt umber watercolor paint for the door and roof of the
home. However, you may use what you have available (crayons, colored pencils, and
markers work great). I also added extra beams on the open sides of the book to make it
look like a completed building. Feel free to add other elements to the design!
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TUDOR ARCHITECTURE EXAMPLES

Tudor style architecture in Lavenham, Suffolk, UK

© Photofusion/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire, UK

© Christine-Ann Martin via Wikipedia

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Tudor Style/Half-Timber Architecture,The Shambles, York, UK

© Christine-Ann Martin via Wikipedia

Historic Tudor houses along Mill Street in Warwick, UK

© Public Domain