Introduction to Shape Grammars I
Shape grammars are systems of visual rules that transform one shape into another, and applying them recursively can turn a simple form into an elaborate pattern. This MIT course covers the mathematical algebras behind these transformations, working through the algebras Uij, then Vij and Wij which add labels and weights, and finally composite algebras built from combinations of these. Lectures and materials focus on how rules generate computations, how shape relates to structure, and how these systems produce actual architectural and design outputs. The course is aimed at students already comfortable with formal or geometric reasoning who want to understand design generation as a rule-based process rather than a purely visual one. Materials are provided through MIT OpenCourseWare under a Creative Commons license, with no tuition or enrollment required to access lecture notes and assignments.