diff --git a/gds/elements.py b/gds/elements.py
index 0652d5b..fa9f0b4 100644
--- a/gds/elements.py
+++ b/gds/elements.py
@@ -1,24 +1,28 @@
 from enum import Enum
 
 class Transformation(object):
-    mirror_x = 0
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.mirror_x = 0
     
-    absolute_rotation = 0
-    absolute_magnification = 0
+        self.absolute_rotation = 0
+        self.absolute_magnification = 0
 
-    zoom = 1
-    rotation = 0
+        self.zoom = 1
+        self.rotation = 0
 
 class Element(object):
-    elflags = 0
-    plex    = 0
-    datatype = 0
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.elflags = 0
+        self.plex    = 0
+        self.datatype = 0
 
 class Drawable(object):
-    layer   = 0
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.layer   = 0
 
 class Boundary(Element, Drawable):
-    points = []
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.points = []
     
 class Path(Element, Drawable):
     class Styles(Enum):
@@ -27,11 +31,12 @@ class Path(Element, Drawable):
         OFFSET_ENDS  = 2
         CUSTOM_END   = 4
     
-    extendEnd = [0,0] # extend past start and end    
-    width     = 0
-    pathStyle = Styles.SQUARE_ENDS
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.extendEnd = [0,0] # extend past start and end    
+        self.width     = 0
+        self.pathStyle = Styles.SQUARE_ENDS
     
-    points = []
+        self.points = []
 
 class Text(Element, Drawable):
     class VJust(Enum):
@@ -44,46 +49,68 @@ class Text(Element, Drawable):
         Center = 1
         Right  = 2
 
-    # text info
-    string = ""
-    position = (0,0)
-    
-    # presentation
-    fontnumber               = 0
-    verticalJustification    = VJust.Top
-    horizontalJustification = HJust.Left
+    def __init__(self):
+        # text info
+        self.string = ""
+        self.position = (0,0)
+        
+        # presentation
+        self.fontnumber               = 0
+        self.verticalJustification    = VJust.Top
+        self.horizontalJustification = HJust.Left
 
-    # optional path info
-    pathStype = Path.Styles.SQUARE_ENDS
-    pathWidth = 0
+        # optional path info
+        self.pathStype = Path.Styles.SQUARE_ENDS
+        self.pathWidth = 0
 
-    transformation = Transformation()
+        self.transformation = Transformation()
 
     
 class Box(Element, Drawable):
-    points = []
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.points = []
 
 class SRef(Element):
-    position = (0,0)
-    structure = ""
-    
-    transformation  = Transformation()
+    """
+    A Structure Reference defines a single instance of a different structure in 
+    the structure we call parent here
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.position = (0,0)
+        self.structure = ""
+        
+        self.transformation  = Transformation()
 
-    # tree
-    parent   = None
+        self.parent = None
 
-class ARef(Element):
-    position = (0,0)
-    
-    # positions of last instance in X and Y direction
-    bounds = [(0,0), (0,0)]
-    # number of instances in X and Y direction
-    size   = (0,0)
+class ARef(SRef):
+    """
+    An Array Reference is similar to the SRef, but it defines the instances in a grid
+    with size instances spaces evenly between the bound coordinates
+
+    with:
+
+    v1 = bounds[0] - position
+    v2 = bounds[1] - position
+    i  = xth instance index
+    j  = yth instance index
+
+    this will result in an array like this:
+        j\i | 0               |  1                        | ... | size[0]
+        ----+-----------------+---------------------------+-----+--------------------
+        0   | (position)      |  (position + v1)          | ... | (bounds[0])
+        1   | (position + v2) |  (position + v1*i + v2*j) | ... | (bounds[0] + v2)
+      ...   | ...             |  ...                      | ... | ...
+    size[1] | (bounds[2])     |  (bounds[2] + v1)         | ... | (bounds[0] + bounds[1])
+
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(ARef, self).__init__()
+
+        # positions of last instance in X and Y direction
+        self.bounds = [(0,0), (0,0)]
+        # number of instances in X and Y direction
+        self.size   = (0,0)
 
-    structure = ""
-    
-    transformation  = Transformation()
 
-    # tree
-    parent   = None