PURPOSE: To obtain self-supporting structures which can be folded into compact stacks and have diverse shapes with respect to a unit and its structure.

CONSTITUTION: A structure is constituted as a unit 100 and is composed of one central tapered strip 110 bordered by two elongated strips 130 and 150. The tapered strip 110 is pleated along a series of lines that cross it widthwise and each elongated strip is pleated along a series of lines that cross it widthwise. The central tapered strip 110 is jointed to each of the two elongated strips 130 and 150 by a series of pleat lines that are connected end-to-end. When the unit 100 is folded, each of the two elongated strips is folded into a stack. In addition, the central tapered strip 110 is folded in a zigzag fashion in such a way that the planes of the tapered strips 110 lie essentially orthogonal to the planes of the stacked elongated strips 130 and 150. The two stacked elongated strips 130 and 150 are folded toward each other in such a way that the stacks lie in line with one another.