Friday, July 18, 2014

Shape Grammer Final Project

In this final project, we were employing multiple rule shape grammar to produce new architectural designs from their own set of rules, to recall and creatively apply all the knowledge that we have acquired from lectures, exercises and Project 1 to produce a good grammar. The shape grammar allowed us to create multiple design alternatives of the building and subsequently choose the best design to be further detailed. 

The project requires students to design a club house for Taylor’s University Kayak Club and the building can be placed anywhere around the lake. Since shape grammar only concerns with the creation of building forms therefore we are not required to conduct a site analysis for this project. The site context and images are only required to be superimposed in the 3D images.  

The minimum space requirements for the kayak club that students need to produce are as follows: 
i) Lobby and lounge 
ii) Office spaces 
iii) 2 changing rooms including toilets & showers 
iv) Kayak and equipment storage space 
v) 1 cafĂ© 
vi) 1 kitchen 
vii) Decks or platforms 
viii) Other supporting spaces 

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 i.e.: adding 
roofs, balconies, porches, curve walls, etc. Then, produce a minimum of 6 designs using the rules that have been established without showing the development process. 

Next, choose one of the design alternatives to be finalized 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. 




Shape Grammar Project 1

For Project 1, it is a group project where we are required to find several natural or man-made elements surrounding them that they believe having some underlying design principles. Then, analyse the design principles and translate them into shape rules. Next, we are to use the newly established rules or modify them to create new and original pavilion/gazebo designs. 





Shape Grammar Exercises

A shape grammar is a rule or a set of rules that determine how to modify or transform a shape into a new one. The rules are applied in a step-by-step 
way to generate a language of designs. 

To facilitate the understanding of shape grammar and development of skills in producing designs using shape grammar, several exercises were conducted during the class. 
i. Single rule 2-dimensional shape grammar 
ii. Single rule 3-dimensional shape grammar  
iii. Two rules 2-dimensional shape grammar