Origami Retractable Roof

Hoberman, working alongside CRA, is developing a retractable roof to be Installed in Piazza Sant'Agostino in Modena, Italy (AGO), which is set to become one of Europe's largest cultural sites at some 22,000 square meters.

At the center of AGO is a triangular courtyard. The new kinetic roof transforms this space into a flexible environment that can shift between open-air and covered configurations. Designed as a collaboration between Chuck Hoberman and Carlo Ratti Associati, the origami-inspired canopy can open and close in minutes, adapting to weather, seasons, and different public uses. 

In 2026, Hoberman and CRA built a 1:5 scale mockup of the roof which can be activated manually by turning cranks. The mockup has been exhibited on the plaza in front of the site to interact with the citizens of Modena.

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