This research focuses on the tracing and analysis of folded plate structures in the architecture of modernism. On the occasion of the Maidan Tent in the refugee camp of Ritsona, a series of research questions arose concerning whether there were more such forms, especially during the post-war period. The questions were related to the basic architectural elements of these forms, the morphology, the materiality, the structural system and even the condition in which they may be today. Through this work, an attempt was made to answer these questions by applying an extensive archival study, field research and recording of these structures, an analysis of their geometry and their further categorization in order to create a new taxonomic typology. Along with this approach, a series of redesigned illustrations and the creation of 3D digital models of their generative unfolded patterns was also used not only for their illustration but also to better understand their structure.

The basic methodological tool, apart from the literature review, was related to the trace and review of application of folded shells during modernism. Given the large amount of data found, it was considered imperative to adopt a method of organising this great volume of information. Therefore, the Atlas of Folded Shells was created enriched by examples of internationally implemented folded architectures during 1950-1970, which were visualized and archived accordingly to the relevant findings.

The individual processing of each of the architectural findings with contemporary technological tools based on the methods of folding architecture, for the purposes of this research, was focused on two emblematic examples. The Miami Marine Stadium (H. Candela, 1963) and the Restaurant "Oceanis" (E. Vourekas, P. Sakellarios, P. Vassiliadis and N. Hatzimichalis, 1962).

This thorough analysis, combined with the creation of the Atlas’ archive, helped to draw substantiated conclusions regarding the redefinition of the term of folded shells, answering where, when and why these structures were first built, while setting at the same time, a starting point for further exploration of such structures in nowadays-architectural practice.