On Modelling the Work of the Architect Glenn Murcutt

Abstract

A prototypical design grammar for a class of country houses by the Australian award-winning architect Glenn Murcutt is developed. The rules of the design grammar are executed to create a design for a country house on a real site with a real brief, in parallel with a design by Murcutt himself. Feedback from Murcutt and the differences between the designs and the reasons for them are discussed. Some conclusions are drawn on the role and assumptions of design grammars as rule- based expert systems and the qualities of design activity which cannot be modelled by such systems