Bracket study : textual, computational, and digital

Abstract

Bracket system is an important and characteristic component in the traditional Chinese architecture. Much has been studied about the system - its origin, historical evolution, structure, and composition - in the traditional way: documents, hand drawings, and physical models. In this thesis, non-traditional methods are applied to the research of the bracket system. The composition of bracket is illuminated in the language of a shape grammar; a computer implementation based on the grammar serves as a teaching tool as well as a design tool of the bracket system. Through the study of the specific element, brackets, it has been explored about the application of the non-traditional research methods into the architectural historical research and education. Meanwhile, this thesis covers the topic of the computer implementation into shape grammars.