Shape Grammar

“A shape grammar is a set of rules that apply in a

step-by-step way to generate a set, or language, of
designs. Shape grammars are both descriptive and
generative. The rules of a shape grammar generate
or compute designs, and the rules themselves are
descriptions of the forms of the generated designs.”
- Shape Grammars in Education and Practice:
History and Prospects (Terry Knight, 1999)
1. Shape grammars were one of the earliest algorithmic
systems for creating and understanding designs directly
through computations with shapes, rather than indirectly
through computations with text or symbols.
2. The foundation of shape grammars theory in an artcle
written by George Stiny and James Gips in 1971.
3. A shape grammar is a set of shape rules that apply in a step-
by-step way to generate a set, or language, of designs.
4. Shape grammars are both descriptive and generative.
5. Shape grammars are spatial.
5. The components of shape rules are shapes: points, lines,
planes, or volumes.
6. Shape rules generate designs using the shape operations of
addition and subtraction, and spatial transformations
familiar to designers such as shifting, mirroring, and
rotating.

Initial shape

Rule -1 Rule -2
A shape grammar consists of shapes, labels, shape rules, and an initial
shape. Shapes and their labels are the basis for the definition of shape
rules.
A shape rule has two parts - a left side shape(s) and a right side
shape(s), separated by an arrow.
A rule states that the shape(s) on the left side is transformed or
replaced by the shape(s) on the right side.
Given an initial shape, one transforms it using the rules of the grammar
to produce a new shape or shapes.
Terry Knight’s approach to Shape Grammar:

Spatial rules are explored through additive

and subtractive shape rules.
Additive rules used to define simple shape
grammars, called basic grammars.
The basic grammars apply recursively to
generate different designs by forming
spatial grammars directed by labels and
rules.
Additive Rule Subtractive Rule
U. Flemming’s Wall architecture 1990:
 Analysis in Architecture

Ice Ray Grammar : Based on Chinese lattice designs.

Five simple rules that capture the compsitional conventions of the lattice
designs. Can generate an infinite number of designs in the same style.
 Analysis in Architecture

Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from

the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580).
Analysis in Architecture

Mughal Gardens
Parametric Shape grammar:
An extension of shape grammars. The shape rules are defined by parameters, so that
it can take into account the context of the already exisitng shapes.

Parametric Shape grammar

generates the compositional
forms and specifies the
function zones of FLW ‘s
Prairie style houses.
The establishment of a
fireplace is the key to the
definition of the Prairie-sytle
house.
Around the fireplace,
functionally distinguised
Froebolean-type blocks are
recursively aded and
interpenetrated to form
compositions for the elaborate
Houses.
 Analysis in Architecture
Birgul Colakoglu :

Grammar for a traditional

housing type in Bosnia.
The grammar is intended to be
used by students. It may also
be used to genrate
interpolations of the type that
can be built in modern
Bosnian context.
 Analysis in Architecture
Jose Duarte’s grammar for a
housing system designed by
Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza.
Based on the houses built in the
Malagueira area in Portugal.
Mass customization of housing
through computer implementation
of the shape grammar - MALAG
 Analysis in Architecture
Jose Duarte’s grammar for a
housing system designed by
Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza.
Based on the houses built in the
Malagueira area in Portugal.
Mass customization of housing
through computer implementation
of the shape grammar - MALAG