Gigantic fan of Pattern Language! When I built my house we used many of the patterns (window on two walls, nothing more than 12’ from a source of natural light. He was a genius.
An interesting historical note is that while architecture didn’t embrace it (it was more about money than any real threat - building his way is expensive), software did. The design patterns movement that started in the 1990s was consciously derived from his work and had a huge effect on how software was designed.
The patterns were different, like “Leaf-node”, and they really worked to give structure to a chaotic discipline.
Really interesting on differences across the pond !
The Nietzsche quote is also remarkably provocative. In some ways, it is to be expected, given his aversion to systems with defined values and meaning-making systems. This perspective is so aversive to how moderns make sense of their worlds, and it may be worth giving more thought to even if, like you, I could not disagree more. Systems and structures are key to making sense of stuff and for keeping stuff running.
I'm reading this really late and it's spring now. So good to discover Christopher Alexander, that was a really intriguing read! His thinking/ process has all the bits I miss from many/most productions of today's architecture/ city planning etc.
Gigantic fan of Pattern Language! When I built my house we used many of the patterns (window on two walls, nothing more than 12’ from a source of natural light. He was a genius.
An interesting historical note is that while architecture didn’t embrace it (it was more about money than any real threat - building his way is expensive), software did. The design patterns movement that started in the 1990s was consciously derived from his work and had a huge effect on how software was designed.
The patterns were different, like “Leaf-node”, and they really worked to give structure to a chaotic discipline.
Thanks for sharing this my first reading of your newsletter. Your writing and curation are both superb. Very enjoyable x
Really interesting on differences across the pond !
The Nietzsche quote is also remarkably provocative. In some ways, it is to be expected, given his aversion to systems with defined values and meaning-making systems. This perspective is so aversive to how moderns make sense of their worlds, and it may be worth giving more thought to even if, like you, I could not disagree more. Systems and structures are key to making sense of stuff and for keeping stuff running.
I'm reading this really late and it's spring now. So good to discover Christopher Alexander, that was a really intriguing read! His thinking/ process has all the bits I miss from many/most productions of today's architecture/ city planning etc.