Design knowledge and context

Design is regarded here as the generation of a language of designs from a grammar. We consider the application of context sensitive grammars to design. Meaning in design is equated with purposeful design activity where mechanisms are devised for finding states which match goals. Regression is discussed as a tool for goal satisfaction using context sensitive grammars. Some of the complexities of implementation introduced by contextual considerations are handled by hierarchical planning. The ideas are demonstrated by means of an example where the artifact is a simple building form which is to fit into a site context. The example has been implemented in PROLOG.