metróplooi

Metróplooi is a Dutch term used in design discourse to describe a fold or crease pattern that is intended to evoke the structure and rhythm of a metropolis. The expression is not uniformly defined across disciplines; its precise meaning varies with context, and it often functions as a metaphor as well as a technical descriptor.

Etymology and usage are uncertain and largely localized. The word appears to be a compound of metro or metropolis and plooi (fold or crease in Dutch). Its attestation is mainly in contemporary Dutch-language design writing, architecture journals, and speculative urban design discussions. Because it is not a widely standardized term, authors may use metróplooi to refer either to literal folded surfaces or to conceptual patterns that resemble urban grain.

In architecture and urban design, metróplooi commonly denotes folded or pleated façades, walls, or plan layouts that create dynamic surfaces and lines. Such folds can influence light, shade, ventilation, and visual perception while echoing the layered, interconnected character of a city. In graphic design and fashion, the term is sometimes used metaphorically to describe patterns, textures, or silhouettes that suggest urban density or layered cityscapes.

See also: pleat, fold, crease, origami, urban design, architecture.