Naturalism - A Guide to Patterns



Naturalism

The above sketch was created to visualize the set of patterns picked from 'A Pattern Language' by Christopher Alexander.

The patterns to create this hillside section composition were the following:

  • 105. South facing outdoors
  • 107. Wings of light
  • 118. Roof Garden
  • 168. Connection to the earth
  • 171. Tree Places
  • 192. Windows overlooking life

The overall composition suggests a strong connection to earth where the structure wouldn't take away from the natural forms of the hill, giving respect to nature. This approach would also mean less excavation and destruction on the site. 



Summary of 'Perspectives: Manifesto 1991'

(pp108-109) Christopher Alexander lays out his manifesto by demeaning the "Mainstream Theory of Architecture" of his time of practice. He lists a series of issues with the mainstream theory that is to argue his claims and needs for change. Such issues include lack of understanding within the definition of quality, affordability, finances, correlations with the ecologies and human behavior, etc. While the theory that no longer serves society or the architects themselves is "still thought in many schools," and "remains as the core of the curriculum." 

(pp110-112) Alexander further describes the ever disconnected platform to humanity that architects join upon graduation and yet they devote themselves to the profession, they will have little to no control over their designed buildings. He calls the mainstream theory a giant scam that advertises "conceptions about space and volume and style" which are artificial and long lost their connection to nature and human beings. He argues that a more subtle, almost vernacular way would be the answer to reinvent architecture, where the designers step up not just as draftsmen but as builders. But that it is a difficult task in the current environment. Finally, he lists the components of a Hippocratic oath that aligns with his agenda and contrasts to reality in architecture, reasoning why it is indeed a difficult task to be a genuine designer. 

Reflection: even though that Alexander's manifesto was published in almost 30 years, some of the issues he pointed are still with us today. Besides, progressing on an artificial path, one might say that the situation got even worse. And that may largely be due to the ever troubling economic a political and social environments all around the world that seem to be harder to address through a continuing dependence on capitalism. 

Keywords

  • archetype: the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies

  • paradigm: an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype

  • a pattern language: an organized and coherent set of patterns, each of which describes a problem and the core of a solution that can be used in many ways within a specific field of expertise. 

  • custodian: one that guards and protects or maintains



Questions & Answers from 'A Pattern Language - Towns - Buildings - Construction'

  • Is this a "user-friendly" guide to building or architecture?

    I can see 'A Pattern Language' from Alexander, et al. a user-friendly guide. It provides the reader with a list of patterns that the authors felt valuable in architecture with a set of recommended steps to combine the list of patterns into a language on municipal, building, and construction levels. The description also uses a humble way to disclose that the presented way is only one of the many possible ways to approach architecture and planning while even this one pattern language system could operate as a base for flexibility and future possibilities. 


  • What are the goals of the patterns?

    The goals of the patterns are to provide and remind the users of many important components in architecture from the city scale down to the construction detail while offering a visible connection in between the patterns. Those connections emphasize the interconnected and interdependent nature of our society. 


  • If you follow these patterns how would your designs change?

    If I were to follow the referenced patterning system, I would use it as a reminder of the big picture by portraying all the small components of the building. It would also help to organize client needs in a way that helps the architecture to be more compressed and sustainable while meeting all those needs of the client. 


  • What kinds of architecture can these patterns be applied to? 

    Virtually, it could be applied to any type of architecture. But rationally, it would only make sense to promote patterns for user-heavy public projects, offices, and residential, since it might not be the most practical to approach a laboratory building or an industrial complex. Such application may have their own unique patterns to govern that may not align with the community/individual connectedness of spaces. 


  • What kind of webs of pattern relations are created using this system? 

    The created webs of patterns would be interconnected. At the same time, however, they would be flexible to compress and combine or expand with alike patterns at any stage of the linear process. 





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