The Open Square Twist (also called Spread Square Twist, or Square Spread) is one of the more common twists done on a square grid, and usually one of the first that a newer folder learns. It looks similar to the closed square twist, but there is an area on the backside that looks like negative space (is only one layer thick) that allows for interesting backlighting contrast.
Crease Patterns and Folded Forms
Animations
Animations by Ben Parker using Origami Simulator
Uses in Tessellations
Open square twists are folded starting from a regular square grid. The mountain folds that form the square itself are not in the grid. The twist can be folded with or without pre-creasing those folds, depending on the expertise of the folder.
They are one of the most widely used twists in origami tessellations.
Here’s some examples of tessellations that use only this twist:
Here’s some examples that use this twist with other square twists:
Video Tutorial
History
The open square twist was not present in any of Shuzo Fujimoto’s publications and is present in Eric Gjerde’s Origami Tessellations.
If you have additional information about the history of this twist, please share it in the comments below!
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