Ancient　Chinese　architecture　represents　a　unique　contribution　to　the　world＇s　architectural　heritage.　However,　there　has　been　a　serious　lack　of　computer　supported　tools　for　representing,　modeling　and　designing　different　forms　of　ancient　Chinese　buildings.　We　present　ICA(3)D,　an　intelligent　computer-aided　system　for　designing　ancient　Chinese-style　architecture.　With　ICA(3)D,　the　user　has　multiple　choices　of　interaction　from　interactive　menus　to　Chinese　natural　language　description.　The　Semantic　Web　technologies　are　used　to　represent　the　domain　knowledge　including　complex　rules　for　composing　complete　timber　structures　from　individual　pieces　of　wood　and　rules　for　inferring　construction　sequences.　Compared　with　other　CAD　technologies,　the　approaches　presented　in　this　paper　feature　a　combination　of　user　interaction　and　automation,　a　text-to-scene　pipeline,　and　a　scalable　knowledge　infrastructure　supported　by　automated　reasoning.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.