Handbook of Regular Patterns: An Introduction to Symmetry in Two Dimensions [Paperback]

Peter S. Stevens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 1981

Most books catalog patterns either by motif or historical period. This handbook takes a different approach by revealing the structural anatomy of patterns, showing how they are generated and how their parts interrelate. It demonstrates how designers and artists, whether students or professionals, can play limitless variations upon a few fundamental patterns and structural arrangements.

The book explores these configurations step by step, starting with simple symmetries of mirror reflections, rotations, translations, and glide-reflections, building to point groups and the seven distinct band or linear arrays, and culminating in the seventeen full-fledged wallpaper patterns. A concluding chapter presents a visual synopsis of the basic patterns.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Peter Stevens has assembled an extremely extensive and visually fascinating collection of regular patterns from many cultures and periods.... The book should be of considerable interest to any practitioner in the area of two-dimensional design."
- Eduard F. Sekler, Professor of Architecture, Harvard University

About the Author

Peter S. Stevens is a registered architect, practicing artist, and author of Patterns in Nature.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (April 26, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262690888
• ISBN-13: 978-0262690881
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,641,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for pattern construction, November 4, 1998

By 

Janet B. Croft (NORMAN, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handbook of Regular Patterns: An Introduction to Symmetry in Two Dimensions (Paperback)

Anyone interested in constructing repeating patterns, the history of design and ornament, quilting, M.C.Escher, geometry, tesselations, or mathematical concepts in the regular division of the plane, will find this hefty book an excellent resource. The historical examples are drawn from an astonishing variety of cultures, and following the exercises at the end of each chapter will give the reader a very thorough grounding in the subject.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book on a deep subject, April 2, 2004

By 

elwin "elwin" (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Regular Patterns: An Introduction to Symmetry in Two Dimensions (Paperback)

The Handbook of Regular Patterns is 390 pages (plus biblio & index) of lovely black and white images. What ties them together is that they can be repeated to "tile the plane" i.e. to fill an indefinitely large page.

They are broken down into 17 kinds of tilings known as symmetry groups or wallpaper groups, each with its own sort of beauty (the Dutch artist M.C. Escher was well versed in the symmetry groups and used them extensively in his art). As a special bonus, the book also presents the 7 linear groups and a few point groups.

After studying the book for a while I was inspired to design and construct my own regular 2D pattern, a fish shaped tile based on the "p2" symmetry group. I cut about 20 tiles out of stoneware clay and fired and glazed them (over 10 years ago), but I still haven't installed them yet.

I have also used ideas from the book to help design quilting patterns and to make patterns for tile floors (all square tiles, but patterns in groups of tiles). I think the book is a useful item in a designer's toolbox.

An interesting topic not covered in the book (because it's not a true tesselation since it has no repeats) is the penrose tiling. Google for penrose tiling to see beautiful patterns based on pentagonal symmetry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Reference, December 1, 2010

By 

ArtAnywhere - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handbook of Regular Patterns: An Introduction to Symmetry in Two Dimensions (Paperback)

This book was recommended by an associate artist. It is an excellent text and visual reference for my own work and for creating exercises for my students.