What Are Truchet Tiles?
Truchet tiles were first introduced in 1704 by Sébastien Truchet, a French mathematician and artist. These tiles are known for their ability to create intricate, repeating patterns using simple geometric shapes. Over the centuries, they have inspired mathematicians, artists, and programmers alike.
Here are two links for reading more about Truchet Tiles:
- "Truchet tiles" on Wikipedia
- "Truchet'n laatat" ("Truchet's tiles") (Finnish)
Categories of Truchet Patterns
1. The 'Loopy' Shapes
Popularized in 1987 by Cyril Smith in his article "The Tiling Patterns of Sebastian Truchet and the Topology of Structural Hierarchy," these patterns feature curved lines that connect seamlessly across tiles, creating flowing, organic designs.
2. The 'Diagonal' Labyrinth
In 2012, Nick Montfort described the diagonal pattern as a labyrinth in his book
"10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10." This simple line of code generates a maze-like pattern
that
Montfort called a "found poem," blending art with programming.
3. The 'Horizontal' Designs
The horizontal category holds a special place in my heart—it's inspired by my childhood memories. Unlike the loopy and diagonal categories, which use only two tile types each, the horizontal category features seven unique tiles (or eleven if you include dead-end variations).
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