A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)
by: Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein
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Amazon.com Review:
The second of three books published by the Center forEnvironmental Structure to provide a "working alternative to ourpresent ideas about architecture, building, and planning," APattern Language offers a practical language for building andplanning based on natural considerations. The reader is given anoverview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language,each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, andsolution. By understanding recurrent design problems in ourenvironment, readers can identify extant patterns in their own designprojects and use these patterns to create a language of theirown. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, and accessible, this book hasbecome a bible for homebuilders, contractors, and developers who careabout creating healthy, high-level design.
Product Description:
"Brilliant....Here's how to design or redesign any space you're living or working in--from metropolis to room. Consider what you want to happen in the space, and then page through this book.Its radically conservative observations will spark, enhance, organize your best ideas, and a wondrous home, workplace, town will result"--San Francisco Chronicle. A handbook designed for the layman which aims to present a language which people can use to express themselves in their own communities or homes, and to better communicate with each other.
The second of three books published by the Center forEnvironmental Structure to provide a "working alternative to ourpresent ideas about architecture, building, and planning," APattern Language offers a practical language for building andplanning based on natural considerations. The reader is given anoverview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language,each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, andsolution. By understanding recurrent design problems in ourenvironment, readers can identify extant patterns in their own designprojects and use these patterns to create a language of theirown. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, and accessible, this book hasbecome a bible for homebuilders, contractors, and developers who careabout creating healthy, high-level design.
Product Description:
"Brilliant....Here's how to design or redesign any space you're living or working in--from metropolis to room. Consider what you want to happen in the space, and then page through this book.Its radically conservative observations will spark, enhance, organize your best ideas, and a wondrous home, workplace, town will result"--San Francisco Chronicle. A handbook designed for the layman which aims to present a language which people can use to express themselves in their own communities or homes, and to better communicate with each other.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Perfect for Downsizing!Must read!!
The ideas in this book will forever change how you look at city and building design. Urban planners, architects, builders and interior designers who want to keep their jobs-- read up! This book will help you create low-cost solutions to the real estate downturns in your area. You have unprecedented opportunities to rethink your cities, towns, strip malls, etc. to make them more user-friendly and inviting while trimming the ugly wasted space that fills so many of our urban centers and McMansion neighborhoods. ... Read More
Rating: - A Pattern Language- A Gateway to Control a Powerful Tool
It's really awesome, this book. I experience how dense it is, the work of Christopher Alexander and other writers. Above all, it's extremely practical and helpful. This book does affect the way we mind about our lives and our world, positively.
Rating: - Timeless
Okay, the title implies another book by this author, "A Timeless Way of Building," but personally I think Pattern Language is a far superior book. I admit I was a bit skeptical when I picked up this book (about 10 years ago) and thought, "What could the 70's possibly offer about modern building concepts?" Probably not much, but what makes this book work so well is not the study of building types per se, but rather the study of human beings and how they interact with spaces. I think this is a must own book for ... Read More
Rating: 
- This is not an end all to architectural problems.
If you think this book will make you a designer well you are wrong.It is a great piece in the myriad of books on architectural theory and certainly a good read.However, this book is intended for architects and urban planners to read and to use as a reference. If you are not one of these people or even if you are, do not think that this is the only valid book by which to base your designs.Also this is not the greatest book on architecture ever written.If you think so then you have not read very many books. ... Read More
Rating: - no problems
my purchase arrived when it was supposed to, and was exactly what i ordered (quality and edition).No problems.
- Perfect for Downsizing!Must read!!The ideas in this book will forever change how you look at city and building design. Urban planners, architects, builders and interior designers who want to keep their jobs-- read up! This book will help you create low-cost solutions to the real estate downturns in your area. You have unprecedented opportunities to rethink your cities, towns, strip malls, etc. to make them more user-friendly and inviting while trimming the ugly wasted space that fills so many of our urban centers and McMansion neighborhoods. ... Read More
- A Pattern Language- A Gateway to Control a Powerful ToolIt's really awesome, this book. I experience how dense it is, the work of Christopher Alexander and other writers. Above all, it's extremely practical and helpful. This book does affect the way we mind about our lives and our world, positively.
- TimelessOkay, the title implies another book by this author, "A Timeless Way of Building," but personally I think Pattern Language is a far superior book. I admit I was a bit skeptical when I picked up this book (about 10 years ago) and thought, "What could the 70's possibly offer about modern building concepts?" Probably not much, but what makes this book work so well is not the study of building types per se, but rather the study of human beings and how they interact with spaces. I think this is a must own book for ... Read More
- This is not an end all to architectural problems.If you think this book will make you a designer well you are wrong.It is a great piece in the myriad of books on architectural theory and certainly a good read.However, this book is intended for architects and urban planners to read and to use as a reference. If you are not one of these people or even if you are, do not think that this is the only valid book by which to base your designs.Also this is not the greatest book on architecture ever written.If you think so then you have not read very many books. ... Read More
- no problemsmy purchase arrived when it was supposed to, and was exactly what i ordered (quality and edition).No problems.
