Computational Studies on Cultural Variation and Heredity

Abstract

Different explications of Stiny’s shape grammar for Chinese ice-ray lattice designs found in literature are explored and their ‘practicality’ is assessed in terms of the number of construction elements included in a representative shape rule and the number of potential matches that the matching algorithm must consider when applying this rule to a representative shape. Alternative explications are suggested that score well with respect to both measures. The exercise is meant to provide insights and requirements for the development of a general shape grammar interpreter, with flexibility and ease of use in mind.