A Pattern Language, online
Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language:
Towns, Buildings, Construction is a lovely book. Computer geeks
borrowed the
framework to talk about programming.
But the original book is overlooked. It’s an easily digestable,
fundamentally sensible book about architecture and urban design.
Problem
When they have a choice, people will always gravitate to those rooms which have light on two sides, and leave the rooms which are lit only from one side unused and empty.
I’m delighted to see someone put
the patterns online.
The descriptions are much shorter than the book material, but it’s
handy and cross-indexed. From the practical
P125: Stair Seats
(echoed in William
Whyte’s work) to the subtle
P134: Zen
View, it’s all here for quick reference.
When they have a choice, people will always gravitate to those rooms which have light on two sides, and leave the rooms which are lit only from one side unused and empty.
Solution
Locate each room so that it has outdoor space outside it on at least
two sides, and then place windows in these outdoor walls so that
natural light falls into every room from more than one direction.