nEcken

nEcken is a concept used in design and geometry that centers on the use and arrangement of corner units. In its broad use, a module designated as 'nEcken' consists of n corners arranged in a polygonal shape; by varying n, designers create flexible configurations suitable for tessellation, furniture, or spatial planning. The term blends the German word Ecken, meaning corners, with the variable algebraic symbol n, and is sometimes styled with a capital E to emphasize branding.

In architecture and interior design, nEcken modules are used to form continuous edge patterns, seating layouts, or shelving systems. Because corners are the primary organizing element, the approach supports rapid prototyping, scalable layouts, and parametric adjustment. In tiling and computational geometry, nEcken describes families of polygons that tessellate or interlock with shared edges, enabling diverse floor or wall patterns with a consistent corner grammar.

History and reception: The concept emerged in design discourse in the 2010s and 2020s as part of modular and parametric design. Proponents cite benefits in repeatability, material efficiency, and spatial clarity, while critics point to potential overemphasis on corner geometry at the expense of function or human scale.

See also: modular design, tiling, polygon, parametrization, tessellation.