diff --git a/include/mapnik/cairo/cairo_context.hpp b/include/mapnik/cairo/cairo_context.hpp
index c44d11bf5..c38d7d10e 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/cairo/cairo_context.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/cairo/cairo_context.hpp
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ public:
     void line_to(double x, double y);
     void rectangle(double x, double y, double w, double h);
     void stroke();
+    void stroke_preserve();
     void fill();
     void paint();
     void paint(double opacity);
diff --git a/include/mapnik/path.hpp b/include/mapnik/path.hpp
index ad1f3aa7f..cf90f2f8f 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/path.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/path.hpp
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ public:
         : type_(type)
     {}
 
+    // underlying container access
+    container_type const* operator->() const { return &cont_; }
+    container_type* operator->() { return &cont_; }
+
     types type() const
     {
         return static_cast<types>(type_ & types::Polygon);
diff --git a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/agg_building_symbolizer_context.hpp b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/agg_building_symbolizer_context.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fcf2df091
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/agg_building_symbolizer_context.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+/*****************************************************************************
+ *
+ * This file is part of Mapnik (c++ mapping toolkit)
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2018 Artem Pavlenko
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ *
+ *****************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef MAPNIK_RENDERER_COMMON_AGG_BUILDING_SYMBOLIZER_CONTEXT_HPP
+#define MAPNIK_RENDERER_COMMON_AGG_BUILDING_SYMBOLIZER_CONTEXT_HPP
+
+// mapnik
+#include <mapnik/color.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/util/noncopyable.hpp>
+
+// agg
+#pragma GCC diagnostic push
+#include <mapnik/warning_ignore_agg.hpp>
+#include "agg_vcgen_stroke.h"
+#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
+
+namespace mapnik { namespace detail {
+
+template <typename Derived, typename Rasterizer>
+struct agg_building_symbolizer_context : util::noncopyable
+{
+    agg::vcgen_stroke stroke_gen;
+    Rasterizer & ras;
+
+    explicit agg_building_symbolizer_context(Rasterizer & r)
+        : ras(r) {}
+
+    Derived & derived()
+    {
+        return static_cast<Derived&>(*this);
+    }
+
+    void set_color(color const& c)
+    {
+        // to be overridden in Derived
+    }
+
+    void fill() { derived().render_scanlines(ras); }
+    void fill_from(double x, double y) { ras.move_to_d(x, y); }
+    void fill_to(double x, double y) { ras.line_to_d(x, y); }
+    void fill_close() { ras.close_polygon(); }
+
+    void stroke()
+    {
+        stroke_gen.rewind(0);
+        ras.reset();
+        ras.add_path(stroke_gen);
+        derived().render_scanlines(ras);
+    }
+
+    void stroke_from(double x, double y)
+    {
+        stroke_gen.remove_all();
+        stroke_gen.add_vertex(x, y, agg::path_cmd_move_to);
+    }
+
+    void stroke_to(double x, double y)
+    {
+        stroke_gen.add_vertex(x, y, agg::path_cmd_line_to);
+    }
+
+    void stroke_close()
+    {
+        stroke_gen.add_vertex(0, 0, agg::path_cmd_end_poly |
+                                    agg::path_flags_close);
+    }
+
+    template <typename VertexSource>
+    void stroke_preserve(VertexSource & vs, unsigned path_id = 0)
+    {
+        vs.rewind(path_id);
+        for (;;)
+        {
+            double x, y;
+            unsigned cmd = vs.vertex(&x, &y);
+            if (agg::is_move_to(cmd))
+            {
+                stroke_from(x, y);
+            }
+            else if (agg::is_vertex(cmd))
+            {
+                stroke_to(x, y);
+            }
+            else if (agg::is_close(cmd))
+            {
+                stroke_close();
+                stroke();
+            }
+            else if (agg::is_stop(cmd))
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        // simulate the "preserve" part
+        ras.reset();
+        ras.add_path(vs, path_id);
+    }
+};
+
+}} // namespace mapnik::detail
+
+#endif // MAPNIK_RENDERER_COMMON_AGG_BUILDING_SYMBOLIZER_CONTEXT_HPP
diff --git a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp
index 392925136..c324a0e8b 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -30,26 +30,22 @@
 #include <mapnik/path.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/transform_path_adapter.hpp>
 
-#pragma GCC diagnostic push
-#include <mapnik/warning_ignore_agg.hpp>
-#include "agg_conv_transform.h"
-#pragma GCC diagnostic pop
-
 namespace mapnik {
 
 struct render_building_symbolizer
 {
-    using vertex_adapter_type = geometry::polygon_vertex_adapter<double>;
-    using transform_path_type = transform_path_adapter<view_transform, vertex_adapter_type>;
-    using roof_type = agg::conv_transform<transform_path_type>;
-
 private:
 
     using size_t = std::size_t;
     using uint8_t = std::uint8_t;
 
+    static constexpr uint8_t SEG_MOVETO_LHR = SEG_MOVETO | 0x10;
+    static constexpr uint8_t SEG_MOVETO_RHR = SEG_MOVETO | 0x20;
+
     renderer_common const& rencom_;
     double const height_;
+    bool render_back_side_ = false;
+    path_type roof_vertices_{path_type::types::Polygon};
 
 public:
 
@@ -71,6 +67,21 @@ public:
         // colors are not always needed so they're not extracted here
     }
 
+    bool has_transparent_fill() const
+    {
+        return (fill_color.alpha_ & wall_fill_color.alpha_) != 255;
+    }
+
+    bool render_back_side() const
+    {
+        return render_back_side_;
+    }
+
+    void render_back_side(bool value)
+    {
+        render_back_side_ = value;
+    }
+
     void setup_colors(building_symbolizer const& sym,
                       feature_impl const& feature)
     {
@@ -124,81 +135,258 @@ public:
         safe_mul(base_stroke_color.alpha_, stroke_opacity);
     }
 
-    template <typename F1, typename F2, typename F3>
+    template <typename Context>
     void apply(feature_impl const& feature,
                proj_transform const& prj_trans,
-               F1 face_func, F2 frame_func, F3 roof_func)
+               Context & painter)
     {
         auto const& geom = feature.get_geometry();
+
+        roof_vertices_->clear();
+
         if (geom.is<geometry::polygon<double>>())
         {
             auto const& poly = geom.get<geometry::polygon<double>>();
-            vertex_adapter_type va(poly);
-            transform_path_type transformed(rencom_.t_, va, prj_trans);
-            make_building(transformed, face_func, frame_func, roof_func);
+            render_ground(poly, prj_trans, painter);
         }
         else if (geom.is<geometry::multi_polygon<double>>())
         {
             auto const& multi_poly = geom.get<geometry::multi_polygon<double>>();
             for (auto const& poly : multi_poly)
             {
-                vertex_adapter_type va(poly);
-                transform_path_type transformed(rencom_.t_, va, prj_trans);
-                make_building(transformed, face_func, frame_func, roof_func);
+                render_ground(poly, prj_trans, painter);
             }
         }
+        if (roof_vertices_.size() > 0)
+        {
+            render_walls(painter);
+            render_roof(painter);
+        }
     }
 
 private:
-    template <typename F>
-    void render_face(double x0, double y0, double x, double y, F & face_func, path_type & frame)
-    {
-        path_type faces(path_type::types::Polygon);
-        faces.move_to(x0, y0);
-        faces.line_to(x, y);
-        faces.line_to(x, y - height_);
-        faces.line_to(x0, y0 - height_);
-        face_func(faces, wall_fill_color);
 
-        frame.move_to(x0, y0);
-        frame.line_to(x, y);
-        frame.line_to(x, y - height_);
-        frame.line_to(x0, y0 - height_);
+    bool is_visible(int orientation) const
+    {
+        return orientation > 0 || (orientation < 0 && render_back_side_);
     }
 
-    template <typename Geom, typename F1, typename F2, typename F3>
-    void make_building(Geom & poly, F1 & face_func, F2 & frame_func, F3 & roof_func)
+    template <typename T, typename Context>
+    void render_ground(geometry::polygon<T> const& poly,
+                       proj_transform const& prj_trans,
+                       Context & painter)
+    {
+        using vertex_adapter_type = geometry::polygon_vertex_adapter<T>;
+        using transform_path_type = transform_path_adapter<view_transform, vertex_adapter_type>;
+
+        vertex_adapter_type va(poly);
+        transform_path_type transformed(rencom_.t_, va, prj_trans);
+        painter.set_color(base_stroke_color);
+        paint_outline(transformed, painter);
+    }
+
+    template <typename Context>
+    void render_roof(Context & painter) const
+    {
+        vertex_adapter va(roof_vertices_);
+        painter.set_color(stroke_color);
+        painter.stroke_preserve(va);
+        painter.set_color(fill_color);
+        painter.fill();
+    }
+
+    template <typename Context>
+    void render_walls(Context & painter)
+    {
+        size_t const size = roof_vertices_.size();
+        size_t strip_begin = size;
+        size_t wrap_begin = size;
+        size_t wrap_end = size;
+        double x = 0;
+        double y = 0;
+        int poly_orientation = 0;
+        int strip_orientation = 0;
+        int wrap_orientation = 0;
+
+        painter.set_color(wall_fill_color);
+
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i)
+        {
+            double x0 = x;
+            unsigned cmd = roof_vertices_->get_vertex(i, &x, &y);
+
+            // SEG_LINETO is the most likely command
+            // SEG_CLOSE contains coordinates from previous MOVETO
+            if (cmd == SEG_LINETO || cmd == SEG_CLOSE)
+            {
+                double dx = (x - x0) * poly_orientation;
+                int wall_orientation = (dx < 0 ? -1 : dx > 0 ? 1 : 0);
+
+                if (wall_orientation && wall_orientation != strip_orientation)
+                {
+                    if (wrap_orientation == 0)
+                    {
+                        wrap_orientation = strip_orientation;
+                        wrap_end = i;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        paint_wall(strip_orientation,
+                                   strip_begin, i, i, i, painter);
+                    }
+                    strip_orientation = wall_orientation;
+                    strip_begin = i - 1;
+                }
+
+                if (cmd == SEG_CLOSE)
+                {
+                    if (wrap_orientation != strip_orientation)
+                    {
+                        paint_wall(wrap_orientation,
+                                   wrap_begin, wrap_end, i, i, painter);
+                        wrap_end = wrap_begin;
+                    }
+                    paint_wall(strip_orientation, strip_begin, i + 1,
+                               wrap_begin, wrap_end, painter);
+                }
+            }
+            else if (cmd == SEG_MOVETO_LHR || cmd == SEG_MOVETO_RHR)
+            {
+                poly_orientation = (cmd == SEG_MOVETO_RHR ? -1 : 1);
+                strip_orientation = 0;
+                strip_begin = size;
+                wrap_orientation = 0;
+                wrap_begin = i;
+                wrap_end = i;
+                // restore plain SEG_MOVETO command for `render_roof`
+                roof_vertices_->set_command(i, SEG_MOVETO);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    template <typename VertexSource, typename Context>
+    void paint_outline(VertexSource & poly, Context & painter)
     {
-        path_type frame(path_type::types::LineString);
         double ring_begin_x, ring_begin_y;
         double x0 = 0;
         double y0 = 0;
         double x, y;
+        double area = 0;
+        size_t ring_begin = roof_vertices_.size();
+        uint8_t ring_begin_cmd = SEG_MOVETO;
+
+        // stroke ground outline, collect transformed points in roof_vertices_
+        // and figure out exterior ring orientation along the way
         poly.rewind(0);
-        for (unsigned cm = poly.vertex(&x, &y); cm != SEG_END; cm = poly.vertex(&x, &y))
+        while (unsigned cmd = poly.vertex(&x, &y))
         {
-            if (cm == SEG_MOVETO)
+            if (cmd == SEG_LINETO) // the most likely command
             {
-                ring_begin_x = x;
-                ring_begin_y = y;
+                if (ring_begin_cmd == SEG_MOVETO) // exterior ring
+                {
+                    double ax = x0 - ring_begin_x;
+                    double ay = y0 - ring_begin_y;
+                    double bx = x - ring_begin_x;
+                    double by = y - ring_begin_y;
+                    area += ax * by - bx * ay;
+                }
+                roof_vertices_.line_to(x, y - height_);
+                painter.stroke_to(x, y);
+                x0 = x;
+                y0 = y;
             }
-            else if (cm == SEG_LINETO)
+            else if (cmd == SEG_MOVETO)
             {
-                render_face(x0, y0, x, y, face_func, frame);
+                ring_begin = roof_vertices_.size();
+                ring_begin_x = x0 = x;
+                ring_begin_y = y0 = y;
+                roof_vertices_.move_to(x, y - height_);
+                painter.stroke_from(x, y);
             }
-            else if (cm == SEG_CLOSE)
+            else if (cmd == SEG_CLOSE)
             {
-                render_face(x0, y0, ring_begin_x, ring_begin_y, face_func, frame);
+                if (ring_begin_cmd == SEG_MOVETO) // exterior ring
+                {
+                    // because in screen coordinates `y` grows downward,
+                    // negative area means counter-clockwise orientation
+                    // (left-hand-rule, inside is on the left)
+                    ring_begin_cmd = (area < 0 ? SEG_MOVETO_LHR : SEG_MOVETO_RHR);
+                }
+                if (ring_begin < roof_vertices_.size())
+                {
+                    // modify SEG_MOVETO command so that `render_walls` knows
+                    // how front-side and back-side walls are oriented
+                    roof_vertices_->set_command(ring_begin, ring_begin_cmd);
+                }
+                painter.stroke_close();
+                painter.stroke();
+                x0 = ring_begin_x;
+                y0 = ring_begin_y;
+                // add close path command including coordinates;
+                // we utilize these when rendering walls
+                roof_vertices_.push_vertex(x0, y0 - height_, SEG_CLOSE);
             }
-            x0 = x;
-            y0 = y;
+        }
+    }
+
+    template <typename Context>
+    void paint_wall(int orientation,
+                    size_t begin1, size_t end1,
+                    size_t begin2, size_t end2,
+                    Context & painter) const
+    {
+        if (is_visible(orientation))
+        {
+            paint_wall_faces(begin1, end1, begin2, end2, painter);
+        }
+    }
+
+    template <typename Context>
+    void paint_wall_faces(size_t begin1, size_t end1,
+                          size_t begin2, size_t end2,
+                          Context & painter) const
+    {
+        if (begin1 >= end1)
+            return;
+
+        double x, y;
+        roof_vertices_->get_vertex(begin1, &x, &y);
+        painter.fill_from(x, y);
+
+        double x0 = x;
+
+        for (size_t i = begin1; ++i < end1; )
+        {
+            roof_vertices_->get_vertex(i, &x, &y);
+            painter.fill_to(x, y);
+        }
+        for (size_t i = begin2; i < end2; ++i)
+        {
+            roof_vertices_->get_vertex(i, &x, &y);
+            painter.fill_to(x, y);
         }
 
-        frame_func(frame, wall_fill_color);
+        double sx = stroke_width * (x < x0 ? -0.5 : 0.5);
+        painter.fill_to(x + sx, y);
+        painter.fill_to(x + sx, y + height_);
+        painter.fill_to(x, y + height_);
 
-        agg::trans_affine_translation tr(0, -height_);
-        roof_type roof(poly, tr);
-        roof_func(roof, fill_color);
+        for (size_t i = end2; i-- > begin2; )
+        {
+            roof_vertices_->get_vertex(i, &x, &y);
+            painter.fill_to(x, y + height_);
+        }
+        for (size_t i = end1; i-- > begin1; )
+        {
+            roof_vertices_->get_vertex(i, &x, &y);
+            painter.fill_to(x, y + height_);
+        }
+
+        painter.fill_to(x - sx, y + height_);
+        painter.fill_to(x - sx, y);
+        painter.fill_to(x, y);
+        painter.fill_close();
+        painter.fill();
     }
 
     static void safe_mul(uint8_t & v, double opacity)
diff --git a/include/mapnik/vertex_vector.hpp b/include/mapnik/vertex_vector.hpp
index 33054a91b..e64294542 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/vertex_vector.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/vertex_vector.hpp
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@ public:
             ::operator delete(vertices_);
         }
     }
+
+    void clear()
+    {
+        pos_ = 0;
+    }
+
     size_type size() const
     {
         return pos_;
diff --git a/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
index d2c143d47..597071fee 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
  *****************************************************************************/
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/image_any.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/agg_renderer.hpp>
@@ -30,12 +29,10 @@
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/expression_evaluator.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/expression.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/renderer_common/agg_building_symbolizer_context.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <deque>
-#include <memory>
-
+// agg
 #pragma GCC diagnostic push
 #include <mapnik/warning_ignore_agg.hpp>
 #include "agg_basics.h"
@@ -45,26 +42,49 @@
 #include "agg_rasterizer_scanline_aa.h"
 #include "agg_scanline_u.h"
 #include "agg_renderer_scanline.h"
-#include "agg_conv_stroke.h"
 #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 
-namespace mapnik
+namespace mapnik {
+
+namespace { // (local)
+
+struct agg_building_context
+    : detail::agg_building_symbolizer_context<agg_building_context, rasterizer>
 {
+    using base = detail::agg_building_symbolizer_context<agg_building_context, rasterizer>;
+    using pixfmt_type = agg::pixfmt_rgba32_pre;
+    using renderer_base = agg::renderer_base<pixfmt_type>;
+    using renderer_type = agg::renderer_scanline_aa_solid<renderer_base>;
+
+    pixfmt_type pixf_;
+    renderer_base renb_;
+    renderer_type ren_;
+    agg::scanline_u8 sl_;
+
+    agg_building_context(agg::rendering_buffer & buf, rasterizer & ras)
+        : base(ras), pixf_(buf), renb_(pixf_), ren_(renb_) {}
+
+    void render_scanlines(rasterizer & ras)
+    {
+        agg::render_scanlines(ras, sl_, ren_);
+    }
+
+    void set_color(color const& c)
+    {
+        ren_.color(agg::rgba8_pre(c.red(), c.green(), c.blue(), c.alpha()));
+    }
+};
+
+} // namespace mapnik::(local)
 
 template <typename T0,typename T1>
 void agg_renderer<T0,T1>::process(building_symbolizer const& sym,
                                   mapnik::feature_impl & feature,
                                   proj_transform const& prj_trans)
 {
-    using ren_base = agg::renderer_base<agg::pixfmt_rgba32_pre>;
-    using renderer = agg::renderer_scanline_aa_solid<ren_base>;
-
     buffer_type & current_buffer = buffers_.top().get();
     agg::rendering_buffer buf(current_buffer.bytes(), current_buffer.width(), current_buffer.height(), current_buffer.row_size());
-    agg::pixfmt_rgba32_pre pixf(buf);
-    ren_base renb(pixf);
-    renderer ren(renb);
-    agg::scanline_u8 sl;
+    agg_building_context ctx{buf, *ras_ptr};
     render_building_symbolizer rebus{sym, feature, common_};
 
     double gamma = get<value_double, keys::gamma>(sym, feature, common_.vars_);
@@ -76,36 +96,12 @@ void agg_renderer<T0,T1>::process(building_symbolizer const& sym,
         gamma_ = gamma;
     }
 
-    rebus.setup_colors(sym, feature);
+    ctx.stroke_gen.width(rebus.stroke_width);
+    ctx.stroke_gen.line_join(agg::round_join);
 
-    rebus.apply(
-        feature, prj_trans,
-        [&](path_type const& faces, color const& c)
-        {
-            vertex_adapter va(faces);
-            ras_ptr->reset();
-            ras_ptr->add_path(va);
-            ren.color(agg::rgba8_pre(c.red(), c.green(), c.blue(), c.alpha()));
-            agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl, ren);
-        },
-        [&](path_type const& frame, color const& c)
-        {
-            vertex_adapter va(frame);
-            agg::conv_stroke<vertex_adapter> stroke(va);
-            stroke.width(rebus.stroke_width);
-            stroke.miter_limit(1.0);
-            ras_ptr->reset();
-            ras_ptr->add_path(stroke);
-            ren.color(agg::rgba8_pre(c.red(), c.green(), c.blue(), c.alpha()));
-            agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl, ren);
-        },
-        [&](render_building_symbolizer::roof_type & roof, color const& c)
-        {
-            ras_ptr->reset();
-            ras_ptr->add_path(roof);
-            ren.color(agg::rgba8_pre(c.red(), c.green(), c.blue(), c.alpha()));
-            agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl, ren);
-        });
+    rebus.setup_colors(sym, feature);
+    rebus.render_back_side(rebus.has_transparent_fill());
+    rebus.apply(feature, prj_trans, ctx);
 }
 
 template void agg_renderer<image_rgba8>::process(building_symbolizer const&,
diff --git a/src/cairo/cairo_context.cpp b/src/cairo/cairo_context.cpp
index 6bcdf7ab1..411160a45 100644
--- a/src/cairo/cairo_context.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo/cairo_context.cpp
@@ -292,6 +292,12 @@ void cairo_context::stroke()
     check_object_status_and_throw_exception(*this);
 }
 
+void cairo_context::stroke_preserve()
+{
+    cairo_stroke_preserve(cairo_.get());
+    check_object_status_and_throw_exception(*this);
+}
+
 void cairo_context::fill()
 {
     cairo_fill(cairo_.get());
diff --git a/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp b/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
index 542bb6b20..d1e466865 100644
--- a/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -23,20 +23,46 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_CAIRO)
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/proj_transform.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/cairo/cairo_renderer.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/util/noncopyable.hpp>
 // mapnik symbolizer generics
 #include <mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <cmath>
-#include <memory>
+namespace mapnik {
 
-namespace mapnik
+namespace { // (local)
+
+struct cairo_building_context : util::noncopyable
 {
+    cairo_context & cairo_;
+
+    explicit cairo_building_context(cairo_context & context)
+        : cairo_(context) {}
+
+    void set_color(color const& c) { cairo_.set_color(c); }
+
+    void fill() { cairo_.fill(); }
+    void fill_from(double x, double y) { cairo_.move_to(x, y); }
+    void fill_to(double x, double y) { cairo_.line_to(x, y); }
+    void fill_close() { cairo_.close_path(); }
+
+    void stroke() { cairo_.stroke(); }
+    void stroke_from(double x, double y) { cairo_.move_to(x, y); }
+    void stroke_to(double x, double y) { cairo_.line_to(x, y); }
+    void stroke_close() { cairo_.close_path(); }
+
+    template <typename VertexSource>
+    void stroke_preserve(VertexSource & vs, unsigned path_id = 0)
+    {
+        cairo_.add_path(vs, path_id);
+        cairo_.stroke_preserve();
+    }
+};
+
+} // namespace mapnik::(local)
 
 template <typename T>
 void cairo_renderer<T>::process(building_symbolizer const& sym,
@@ -44,37 +70,17 @@ void cairo_renderer<T>::process(building_symbolizer const& sym,
                                   proj_transform const& prj_trans)
 {
     cairo_save_restore guard(context_);
+    cairo_building_context ctx{context_};
     render_building_symbolizer rebus{sym, feature, common_};
 
     composite_mode_e comp_op = get<composite_mode_e, keys::comp_op>(sym, feature, common_.vars_);
     context_.set_operator(comp_op);
+    context_.set_line_width(rebus.stroke_width);
+    context_.set_line_join(ROUND_JOIN);
 
     rebus.setup_colors(sym, feature);
-
-    rebus.apply(
-        feature, prj_trans,
-        [&](path_type const& faces, color const& c)
-        {
-            vertex_adapter va(faces);
-            context_.set_color(c);
-            context_.add_path(va);
-            context_.fill();
-        },
-        [&](path_type const& frame, color const& c)
-        {
-            vertex_adapter va(frame);
-            context_.set_color(c);
-            context_.set_line_width(rebus.stroke_width);
-            context_.set_miter_limit(1.0);
-            context_.add_path(va);
-            context_.stroke();
-        },
-        [&](render_building_symbolizer::roof_type & roof, color const& c)
-        {
-            context_.set_color(c);
-            context_.add_path(roof);
-            context_.fill();
-        });
+    rebus.render_back_side(rebus.has_transparent_fill());
+    rebus.apply(feature, prj_trans, ctx);
 }
 
 template void cairo_renderer<cairo_ptr>::process(building_symbolizer const&,
diff --git a/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp b/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
index 0e727b029..713234675 100644
--- a/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/grid/process_building_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #if defined(GRID_RENDERER)
 
 // mapnik
-#include <mapnik/make_unique.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/feature.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/grid/grid_rasterizer.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/grid/grid_renderer.hpp>
@@ -32,69 +31,66 @@
 #include <mapnik/expression_evaluator.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/expression.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/symbolizer.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/renderer_common/agg_building_symbolizer_context.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/renderer_common/process_building_symbolizer.hpp>
 
-// stl
-#include <deque>
-#include <memory>
-
+// agg
 #pragma GCC diagnostic push
 #include <mapnik/warning_ignore_agg.hpp>
 #include "agg_rasterizer_scanline_aa.h"
 #include "agg_renderer_scanline.h"
 #include "agg_scanline_bin.h"
-#include "agg_conv_stroke.h"
 #pragma GCC diagnostic pop
 
-namespace mapnik
+namespace mapnik {
+
+namespace { // (local)
+
+struct grid_building_context
+    : detail::agg_building_symbolizer_context<grid_building_context, grid_rasterizer>
 {
+    using base = detail::agg_building_symbolizer_context<grid_building_context, grid_rasterizer>;
+    using renderer_base = grid_renderer_base_type;
+    using renderer_type = agg::renderer_scanline_bin_solid<renderer_base>;
+    using pixfmt_type = typename renderer_base::pixfmt_type;
+    using color_type = typename renderer_base::pixfmt_type::color_type;
+
+    pixfmt_type pixf_;
+    renderer_base renb_;
+    renderer_type ren_;
+    agg::scanline_bin sl_;
+
+    grid_building_context(grid_rendering_buffer & buf, grid_rasterizer & ras)
+        : base(ras), pixf_(buf), renb_(pixf_), ren_(renb_) {}
+
+    void render_scanlines(grid_rasterizer & ras)
+    {
+        agg::render_scanlines(ras, sl_, ren_);
+    }
+
+    void set_feature(value_integer id)
+    {
+        ren_.color(color_type(id));
+    }
+};
+
+} // namespace mapnik::(local)
 
 template <typename T>
 void grid_renderer<T>::process(building_symbolizer const& sym,
                                mapnik::feature_impl & feature,
                                proj_transform const& prj_trans)
 {
-    using pixfmt_type = typename grid_renderer_base_type::pixfmt_type;
-    using color_type = typename grid_renderer_base_type::pixfmt_type::color_type;
-    using renderer_type = agg::renderer_scanline_bin_solid<grid_renderer_base_type>;
-    agg::scanline_bin sl;
-
     grid_rendering_buffer buf(pixmap_.raw_data(), common_.width_, common_.height_, common_.width_);
-    pixfmt_type pixf(buf);
-
-    grid_renderer_base_type renb(pixf);
-    renderer_type ren(renb);
-
+    grid_building_context ctx{buf, *ras_ptr};
     render_building_symbolizer rebus{sym, feature, common_};
 
-    rebus.apply(
-        feature, prj_trans,
-        [&](path_type const& faces, color const& )
-        {
-            vertex_adapter va(faces);
-            ras_ptr->reset();
-            ras_ptr->add_path(va);
-            ren.color(color_type(feature.id()));
-            agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl, ren);
-        },
-        [&](path_type const& frame, color const& )
-        {
-            vertex_adapter va(frame);
-            agg::conv_stroke<vertex_adapter> stroke(va);
-            stroke.width(rebus.stroke_width);
-            stroke.miter_limit(1.0);
-            ras_ptr->reset();
-            ras_ptr->add_path(stroke);
-            ren.color(color_type(feature.id()));
-            agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl, ren);
-        },
-        [&](render_building_symbolizer::roof_type & roof, color const& )
-        {
-            ras_ptr->reset();
-            ras_ptr->add_path(roof);
-            ren.color(color_type(feature.id()));
-            agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl, ren);
-        });
+    ctx.stroke_gen.width(rebus.stroke_width);
+    ctx.stroke_gen.line_join(agg::round_join);
+    ctx.set_feature(feature.id());
+
+    rebus.render_back_side(false);
+    rebus.apply(feature, prj_trans, ctx);
 
     pixmap_.add_feature(feature);
 }