48-747 Shape Grammars II: Theory and Explorations

9 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This course is an introduction to spatial grammars and their application to design and composition. Grammatical approaches offer an alternative to traditional approaches. A particular kind of grammatical formalism called shape grammars is examined in detail. Shape grammars have been used extensively to understand architectural styles, landscape design, urban design, geometrical patterns, fine art and ornament, paintings etc. Shape grammars have also been applied to civil and mechanical engineering applications, namely, structures, product and brand designs, and in computer graphics, to visual modeling. Topics include the formal and informal aspects of grammars, evolution of grammatical ideas, their relevance, application and use in the analyses of styles, syntheses of form, and the incorporation of function, transformations of grammars, and the implementation of grammars. Student work includes assignments and a project involving either or both an analysis of style through grammatical composition and an implementation of a grammar interpreter.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Spring 2027

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