The logic of worms: a study in architectural knowledge representation

Abstract

A schematic but nontrivial site-plan prototype is analyzed, and constituent concepts are created and subsequently represented in formal logic, using Horn clause notation. The purpose of this work is to explore logic programming as a means of representing realistic design knowledge in computer systems for support of architectural sketch design. No such system has been implemented as part of the present study, but results are reported which are encouraging and relevant to further research in that direction. Thus the study seems to show that logical analysis of a specific prototype design can yield a 'microcosmos' of general concepts which are meaningful in their own right but also potentially useful in many other contexts than that of the prototype.