Algorithmic Design & Shape Grammars / Urban Design
Carnegie Mellon University - Computer, Cognition, Syntax: Beyond Seeing, Doing and Being
Instructor: Prof. Vernelle A. A. Noel vnoel@andrew.cmu.edu
Algorithmic Design & Shape Grammars / Urban Design
Carnegie Mellon University - Computer, Cognition, Syntax: Beyond Seeing, Doing and Being
Instructor: Prof. Vernelle A. A. Noel vnoel@andrew.cmu.edu
This project experiments with architectural spatial experiences as abstract representations of tectonic
relations, drawn from the repetitive gestures and material rhythms of the Turkish coffee making and drinking
ritual. Using a shape grammar framework, the cultural logic embedded in this everyday ceremony is translated
into formal design rules that guide spatial composition. These rules were then applied to generate the layout of
a recreational park in a town setting like İzmir, producing spatial sequences that echo the ritual's embodied
choreography. The system offers a balance between generative possibility and designer intuition, allowing both
structured control and open-ended exploration within the design process.
Grammar Ruleset
Tray......................................Support, Groundedness, Shared Presence
Upright Cup..........................Containment, Focus, Integrity
Downward Cup.......................Sealing, Suspense, Temporality
Cup-to-Cup or Tray-to-Tray...................Reciprocity, Enclosure, Threshold, Transitional Space
Tray above Cup..........................Canapying, Receiving, Receptive