From Shape Rules to Rule Schemata and Back

Shape rules and rule schemata are compared in terms of their expressive and productive features in design inquiry. Two kinds of formal processes are discussed to facilitate the comparison. The first proceeds from shape rule instances and infers rule schemata that the shape rules can be defined in. The second proceeds from rule schemata and postulates shape rule instances that can be defined within the schemata. These two parallel processes mirror our intuition in design: the conceptual need to frame explicit actions within general frameworks of principles, and the productive need to supply general principles with an explicit system of actions.