14+ House and Heart Models

In the origami community, it is not uncommon to see multiple new designs on one topic popping up around the same time. This phenomenon may be motivated by design competitions, for example when a specific theme is posed for an upcoming origami convention. It may be observed around celebrations: Close to the Chinese New Year, we may see more designs for the next zodiac animal; around Valentine’s Day, we may see more heart-based or flower designs; and around Christmas, stars are a popular subject. Sometimes a designer comes up with a new model, and this motivates others to present their take on it. Current events can also influence our creativity. The U.S. elections in 2016 were one such example. Another example is the current COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken throughout the world to flatten the curve.

In almost all countries, people are asked or required to practice social distancing and self-isolation. Most educational institutions are temporarily closed, as are many workplaces and public places like parks and playgrounds. These are dramatic changes to our everyday lives. Such unusual times bring not only hardship but often also a surge of creativity and commentary in the world of art. The fact that many are at home and some have more free time than before amplifies the effect.

So it is perhaps not unexpected that a series of new origami designs around the current topic of interest have been created. In the spirit of the #stayhome initiative, a popular theme is the combination of a house and a heart. Here is an overview of such models:

14 house and heart models as folded by Sara Adams

As you can see, while some models were created before 2020, a surge of house and heart models came into existence only recently. The date given for each model approximates when it was designed. For the older models, I used the publication date, or information the designer provided. For the 2020 models, I used the date on which the creator posted the model on their Instagram or YouTube account.

Most of these models have instructions in the form of video tutorials, PDF diagrams and/or photo diagrams, so I hope you will enjoy folding them, especially if you are staying home, too. It's also a great opportunity to scour your paper stash for red and white sheets.

Finally, if you are aware of further models representing a house and a heart, leave a comment to help complete the list.

P.S.

Mere days after I finished writing this article, more new house and heart models appeared. Here is a list of the models I became aware of shortly before publishing this piece: