The Forbidden Symmetries

The emergence of quasi-periodic tiling theories in mathematics and material science is revealing a new class of symmetry, which had never been accessible before. Because of their astounding visual and structural properties, quasi-periodic symmetries can be ideally suited for many applications in art and architecture; providing a rich source of ideas for articulating form, pattern, surface and structure. However, since their discovery, the unique long-range order of quasi-periodic symmetries, is still posing a perplexing puzzle. As rule-based systems, the ability to algorithmically generate these complicated symmetries can be instrumental in understanding and manipulating their geometry