Shape Grammar in Architecture Designing

1. Shape Grammar
In Designing
1By: Gunjan Gangey

2. Shape Grammar- Shape grammars in computation are a specific class of
production systems that generate geometric shapes. Typically, shapes are
2- or 3-dimensional, thus shape grammars are a way to study 2- and 3-
dimensional languages.
Shape Grammar-
2By: Gunjan Gangey
2 D shape
3 D shape

3. 3By: Gunjan Gangey
Spatial Relation can be achieved
using shape grammar
Spatial Relation

4. 4By: Gunjan Gangey
Shape Rule

5. Shape Rule-
5By: Gunjan Gangey

6. 6By: Gunjan Gangey
Design Process

7. 7By: Gunjan Gangey

8. 8
By: Gunjan Gangey
Transformation in Design through Shape Grammar

9. Color Grammar
9By: Gunjan Gangey

10. 10By: Gunjan Gangey
Different color codes
can be applied for
different spaces and
functions.
Steps involved
•Select a shape
•Apply color on the
basic of function
•Interplay of spaces
using color grammar
•Evolution of new
matrix

11. 11By: Gunjan Gangey
Additional strategy using in the evolution of Design matrix

12. 12By: Gunjan Gangey
Application of Shape Grammar in Frank Lloyd Wright Design

13. 13By: Gunjan Gangey

14. 14By: Gunjan Gangey

15. Stages of Design-
Beginning
Transition
Theme
Experimentation
Design Evolution
Design Evolution- During the Design Evolution three steps are involved
•Synthesis
•Analysis
•Evolution
During Synthesis collecting design experience from some Architect’s creation . Analyzing
the design using different rule of shape grammar and Evolution of new design by the
comprehension of previous knowledge.
15By: Gunjan Gangey

16. 16By: Gunjan Gangey

17. 17By: Gunjan Gangey
Shape Grammar for
spatial analysis on the
site .
The site is broken into
series of built and
Un-built spaces and
inter relation of spaces
is studied using shape
Grammar.
Advantages-
•Study of hierarchy of
spaces
•Density distribution
can be studied through
this
•Design pattern can be
evolved using this
process

18. 18By: Gunjan Gangey
Study of Urban Spaces using Shape Grammar

19. Shape Grammar in formulating HOUSING Pattern
Housing Pattern using Shape
Grammar at different Stages-
As can be seen in the above
picture, from left to right,
there are a series of cells
attached to the circulation
spaces shown with the red
color.
 While those green cells
should be attached to
the red ones, they should be
organized in such a way to
be able to reach enough
amount of light from
outside.
Similarly the center
core/service core of a
building can also be given
some color coding to
understand the evolution of
pattern
19By: Gunjan Gangey

20. Grammar in Habitat 67-
The example of terrace housing is
a Habitat ’67 design by Moshe
Safdie.
This project with 3 types of
housing creates a living
environment with staggering
forms and series of terrace roofs.
Different permutation and
combination of shape Grammar
used during planning and
attachment of different units
20By: Gunjan Gangey

21. Asian Game Village- A cluster in
Asian games village –the basic unit
of four apartments is designed in
such a way that it can be linked
with cantilevers on ends and partly
on fronts to create a variety of
interlinking spaces.
21By: Gunjan Gangey
Shape Grammar can be applied in
unit designing as well as
collaboration of various units

22. Design- A cluster in Asian games village –
the basic unit of four apartments is
designed in such a way that it can be
linked with cantilevers on ends and partly
on fronts to create a variety of interlinking
spaces
Path way
With a mix of a street and squares ,the
architect recreates what he calls the
‘theatre of the street’, where public
interaction can spill from their immediate
spaces as neighbours into a community
and works towards making them active
participants and not just viewers.
22By: Gunjan Gangey
Hierarchy of Spaces can be studied using
Shape Grammar

23. INCREMENTAL HOUSING, CBD
BELAPUR: BY AR. CHARLES CORREA
• The project is generated by a
hierarchy of spaces. The first is the
private courtyard of single dwelling
used as a space for outdoor
activities during most of the year.
• Subsequently, seven units are
grouped to form a small courtyard
town of about 8m x 8m.
23By: Gunjan Gangey
Different set of unit arrangement can be
formed using the rules of shape grammar

24. Spatial Analysis
Three of these groups form a module of
twenty-one homes that describes the
collective space of the next scale
(approximately 12m x 12m).
Site planning,
Distribution of
spaces and
development of
pattern can be
achieved through the
implication of shape
grammar
Based on clusters of between
seven and 12 pairs of houses
arranged around communal
courtyards, the buildings did
not share party walls – allowing
each family to extend and
adapt their own house
independently.
550 families were planned for in
a 6-acre area limitation.
24By: Gunjan Gangey
Development of module from a basic shape

25. By: Gunjan Gangey 25
Examples of Shape Grammar application in Design
Additive and subtractive shape rule applied in the
designing process.

26. Application of Shape Grammar in Designing
Process and Product , Source= http://archit-yng.wixsite.com/portfolio/shape-grammar
Learning Outcomes of this
Project
Student’s skills were developed
in producing and working with
multiple rule shape grammar.
Developing student’s abilities
in producing architectural
designs using shape grammar
method.
Produce new designs using
shape grammar method from
the student’s own set of rules.