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In-Class Exercises (50%)

To facilitate the students’ understanding of shape grammar and to develop their skills in producing designs using shape grammar, several exercises will be given and to be conducted during the class.

i. Single rule 2-dimensional shape grammar (5%)

ii. Single rule 3-dimensional shape grammar (10%)

iii. Given two rules 2-dimensional shape grammar (5%)

iv. Two rules 2-dimensional shape grammar (10%)

v. Two rules 3-dimensional shape grammar (20%)

 

SHAPE GRAMMAR [ARC3153 / ARC3152]

Module Synopsis 

Shape grammar is a method used to produce new and original design languages using the relationship between shapes as opposed to the traditional and conventional method which mainly depends on the designer’s intuition, experience and ideas as well as adaptation from other projects. In addition it is also used to analyse existing design language and subsequently using the same language to create a number of new and diverse designs which have never been produced before. In this module students will be introduced to the basic concept of shape grammar as well as a range of the existing shape grammar applications including which were produced using computer programming languages. Various exercises will be given to facilitate the students’ understanding of the concept, from a simple single-rule two-dimensional shape grammar to the more advanced three-dimensional shape grammar using manual framework instead of programmed using computer. The module will be presented in the form of a studio with lectures, practical (lab) and seminar presentation. The module will expose students to an alternative means of producing designs which may be applied afterwards in the design studio projects.

 

Module Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Execute shape grammar from given rules to come up with the student’s original designs.

2. Produce new designs using shape grammar method from the student’s own set of rules.

3. Identify and describe the process to analyse existing designs using shape grammar method.

 

Project 1: Shape Grammar of My Future House (50%)

In this final project, for the first time students will be employing multiple rule shape grammar to produce new architectural designs from their own set of rules. Each student needs to recall and creatively apply all the knowledge that they have acquired from lectures and exercises to produce a good grammar. The shape grammar will allow students to create multiple design alternatives of the future home and subsequently choose the best design to be further detailed.

 

The minimum space requirements for the residence that students need to produce are as follows:

i) 5 bedrooms

ii) 5 bathrooms (including powder room)

iii) 2 living rooms (formal living and family area)

iv) 2 dining rooms (formal dining and family dining)

v) 2 kitchen (dry and kitchen)

vi) Other rooms, i.e.: study, prayer, theatre, music, etc.

vii) Supporting spaces, i.e. store room, porches, garages, terraces, etc.

 

The first step in this project would be the establishment of multiple shape rules (more than 3 rules) for the grammar to create only the basic designs of the residence. The rules may be divided into two types; the basic rules to create the basic form or design of the building, and the ornamenting rules to further elaborate the basic form. Then, produce a minimum of six designs using the rules that have been established without showing the development process.

Next, choose one of the design alternatives to be finalised and show the development process of producing the design using the rules and further detail out the design using traditional design method. Students are required to produce floor plans as well as a minimum of three views of the final design in 3D.

Learning Outcomes of this Project

  1. Student’s skills were devoloped in producing and working with multiple rule shape grammar.

  2. Developing student’s abilities in producing architectural designs using shape grammar method.

  3. Produce new designs using shape grammar method from the student’s own set of rules.

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