Shape grammars, a well-structured method of generating designs, are suitable for computer implementation. In this paper, a formal representation of shapes as individuals is developed; some binary operations and relations are then defined upon shapes. The formal mechanisms of shape grammars are presented, with some of the computational problems illustrated. Algorithms to solve some of these problems are given. A Prolog implementation of a generic shape grammar system is demonstrated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BratkoI, 1986Prolog Programming for Artificial Intelligence (Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA)
2.
ClocksinW FMellishC S, 1981Programming in Prolog (Springer, Berlin)
3.
EarlC F, 1986, “Creating design worlds”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design13177–188
4.
FlemmingU, 1987, “More than the sum of parts: The grammar of Queen Anne houses”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design16323–350
5.
GipsJ, 1975Shape Grammars and their Uses (Birkhäuser, Basel)
6.
KnightT W, 1986Transformations of Languages of Designs PhD thesis, Department of Architecture, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
7.
KnightT W, 1988, “Color grammars: designing with lines and colors”, manuscript available from the author, Department of Architecture, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
8.
KrishnamurtiR, 1980, “The arithmetic of shapes”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design7463–484
9.
KrishnamurtiR, 1981, “The construction of shapes”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design85–40
10.
KrishnamurtiRGiraudC, 1986, “Towards a shape editor: The implementation of a shape generation system”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design13391–404
StinyG, 1975Pictorial and Formal Aspects of Shape and Shape Grammars (Birkhäuser, Basel)
13.
StinyG, 1980, “Introduction to shape and shape grammars”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design7343–351
14.
StinyG, 1981, “A note on the description of designs”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design8257–267
15.
StinyG, 1986, “A new line on drafting systems”Design Computing15–19
16.
StinyG, 1988Shape: Algebra, Grammar, and Description manuscript available from the author, Department of Architecture, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
17.
StinyGMitchellW J, 1978, “The Palladian grammar”Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design55–18
