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A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 927 ratings

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Purchase options and add-ons

You can use this book to design a house for yourself with your family; you can use it to work with your neighbors to improve your town and neighborhood; you can use it to design an office, or a workshop, or a public building. And you can use it to guide you in the actual process of construction.

After a ten-year silence, Christopher Alexander and his colleagues at the Center for Environmental Structure are now publishing a major statement in the form of three books which will, in their words, "lay the basis for an entirely new approach to architecture, building and planning, which will we hope replace existing ideas and practices entirely." The three books are
The Timeless Way of Building, The Oregon Experiment, and this book, A Pattern Language.

At the core of these books is the idea that people should design for themselves their own houses, streets, and communities. This idea may be radical (it implies a radical transformation of the architectural profession) but it comes simply from the observation that most of the wonderful places of the world were not made by architects but by the people.

At the core of the books, too, is the point that in designing their environments people always rely on certain "languages," which, like the languages we speak, allow them to articulate and communicate an infinite variety of designs within a forma system which gives them coherence. This book provides a language of this kind. It will enable a person to make a design for almost any kind of building, or any part of the built environment.

"Patterns," the units of this language, are answers to design problems (How high should a window sill be? How many stories should a building have? How much space in a neighborhood should be devoted to grass and trees?). More than 250 of the patterns in this pattern language are given: each consists of a problem statement, a discussion of the problem with an illustration, and a solution. As the authors say in their introduction, many of the patterns are archetypal, so deeply rooted in the nature of things that it seemly likely that they will be a part of human nature, and human action, as much in five hundred years as they are today.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The second of three books published by the Center for Environmental Structure to provide a "working alternative to our present ideas about architecture, building, and planning," A Pattern Language offers a practical language for building and planning based on natural considerations. The reader is given an overview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language, each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, and solution. By understanding recurrent design problems in our environment, readers can identify extant patterns in their own design projects and use these patterns to create a language of their own. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, and accessible, this book has become a bible for homebuilders, contractors, and developers who care about creating healthy, high-level design.

Review


"A wise old owl of a book, one to curl up with in an inglenook on a rainy day. Alexander may be the closest thing home design has to a Zen master."
The New York Times


"A classic. A must read. "T. Colbert, University of Houston


"The design student's bible for relativistic environmental design. "Melinda La Garce,
Southern Illinois University


"Brilliant, Here's how to design or redesign
any space you're living or working infrom 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


"The most important book in architecture and planning for many decades, a landmark whose clarity and humanity give hope that our private and public spaces can yet be made gracefully habitable."
The Next Whole Earth Catalog.


Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press (January 1, 1977)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 1171 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0195019199
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195019193
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 2 x 5.7 x 7.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 927 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
927 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a classic guide to practical design principles. It sheds light on good design details and why some ideas are more desirable than others. Readers find the insight useful and inspiring. They describe the wisdom as timeless and informative. Many consider the book well worth the price, helping them create low-cost solutions to real estate downturns. The book is easy to use and pick up. However, opinions differ on readability - some find it clear and interesting, while others mention typos on almost every page.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

58 customers mention "Design principles"52 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the book's design principles. They find the concepts easy to understand and the examples simple. The book sheds light on good design details and why some ideas are more desirable than others. Readers appreciate the thought-provoking and insightful ideas.

"...It’s a life-changing, beautiful, humane, lovely tool, and every human should have it." Read more

"...correctly address this book's wholesomeness and holistic approach to building good cities and buildings and other structural frames for full, good..." Read more

"...I gave it a 4-star because the ideas were thought -provoking and insightful. This is not a simple book...." Read more

"...I'm only part way through the book, but have already benefitted from the patterns described...." Read more

54 customers mention "Insight"54 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and easy to follow. It provides useful concepts and inspiration for living well. They appreciate the interesting material and wisdom about psychology, anthropology, and sociology. The honesty and practical direction for living are appreciated. Overall, readers consider it a welcome and enlightening addition to their library.

"...It’s a life-changing, beautiful, humane, lovely tool, and every human should have it." Read more

"This book is insightful and fun to read. It is also a book that is easy to pick up and read a bit, and put it..." Read more

"...about architecture and urban planning, this book has more wisdom about psychology, anthropology, and sociology than any other that I've read...." Read more

"...I like the spirit of the book, it is reminiscent of P.M.'s bolo'bolo.... but where bolo'bolo comes from a purely emotional position, these authors..." Read more

15 customers mention "Wisdom"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and informative. They describe it as a classic and must-read for architects and designers. The book covers knowledge, history, functional design, and retrospection.

"This classic architecture work contains abundant wisdom and practical direction for living for every thinking person...." Read more

"...It is extremely helpful and informative...." Read more

"...building design, but is a great read, in general, and full of insight and years of research...." Read more

"Great book, a classic and fun to read. The material never gets old...." Read more

11 customers mention "Value for money"8 positive3 negative

Customers find the book provides good value for money. It helps them create livable and economical spaces. They say it's timeless and worth preserving for 1,000 years.

"...This book will help you create low-cost solutions to the real estate downturns in your area...." Read more

"...It is well worth the price. You'll find yourself eager to share with your friends the concepts you weren't aware of that exist in this field." Read more

"...It is a priceless AND timeless book, worthy to be preserved for 1,000's of years like Archimedes gifts to us...." Read more

"...on which he talks about freedom and idealism, etc... however, the book is not free, instead, it is very expensive, but more importantly, is not free..." Read more

4 customers mention "Ease of use"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to use as a grammar or check-list. They say it's simple to pick up and read a bit, and they appreciate the fast delivery and well-packaged book.

"...It is also a book that is easy to pick up and read a bit, and put it..." Read more

"...It is insightful and easy to follow. The patterns can be easily identified in the world...." Read more

"Clean transaction! Fast delivery, and well protected packaging of this book. Read this book…" Read more

"...When you utilize the systematic approach, it is easy to use as a "grammar" or check-list for every project." Read more

4 customers mention "Material quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's quality. They say it's timeless and worth preserving for thousands of years. The material is clean and in good condition. While some found the content dry, others found it valuable and intuitive.

"...It is a priceless AND timeless book, worthy to be preserved for 1,000's of years like Archimedes gifts to us...." Read more

"Great book, a classic and fun to read. The material never gets old...." Read more

"This book was a bit dry... but full of valuable (though somewhat intuitive) ideas on urban planning and architecture. A real classic." Read more

"Clean and in a good condition" Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book organized into short chapters, each devoted to a design element. They say it's easy to flip through and pick and choose sections to read, like an encyclopedia.

"...back later to pick up where you left off, because it is broken into many very short chapters,each of which contain a key idea...." Read more

"...Although it is designed with many short chapters, each devoted to a design element, the sheer amount of data is somewhat daunting...." Read more

"Easy to flip through. You can pick and choose sections to read, kind of like an encyclopedia of planning. Expensive book, but worth it in my option." Read more

"This is an excellent book for planning spaces! It is clearly organized into different topics and is a most helpful bookl." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"12 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability. Some find it readable and interesting, with clear writing in an informal manner. Others mention issues like typos, poor formatting, and errors on every page.

"...I might make it the rest of the way through.... at least it's an easy read, with so many repetitions in how the models work you can kinda skim..." Read more

"...Clearly the text was ripped from the print version by OCR, and no one bothered to run it through spellcheck. A complete rip-off for $37" Read more

"...Alexander does write clearly, and in an informal, second or first-person manner. But there is little summarizing...." Read more

"...The authors have a casual style which helps to bring the complex interconnectedness of culture, technology, nature and space into terms and ideas..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    I am obsessed with this book. I’ve bought it as a gift for so many important people in my life; I carry it with my a slightly embarrassing amount; I use it and dive into it every time I’m thinking about any layout or rearrange or landscaping or lighting or literally anything to do with the human environment. It’s a life-changing, beautiful, humane, lovely tool, and every human should have it.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2015
    This book is insightful and fun to read. It is also a book that is easy to pick up and read a bit, and put it
    down and come back later to pick up where you left off, because it is broken into many very short chapters,
    each of which contain a key idea. It's hard to describe this book, because it is so unique in its approach
    to telling the reader "how things ought to be" concerning everything from civil planning and city layout,
    to floor-plans, to architectural design, to furnishing. The author is very opinionated and does not shy away
    from boldly telling you what is wrong with the physical constructs of our urban, suburban, and rural areas,
    and how all of that should be properly done in his imagined ideal world.

    In some ways, this book is like reading the professional diary of your crazy uncle who is constantly ranting
    about what's wrong with the world, and how he thinks it should be set right. However, after reading it for
    a while, you get the impression that the author is not really crazy, so much as he is a brilliant eccentric
    whose experience and understanding is based on an extremely broad appreciation of how human beings choose
    to craft their surroundings, and how we get it right, and how we get it wrong, and why.

    Be forewarned... you are not going to agree with everything the author says.
    I don't agree, for example, with his outlandish claim that living in a home that is more than four stories
    about the ground will eventually make you crazy, because I have loved living on the top floor of my
    high-rise condo for the past ten years. I also don't agree with his idea that all kitchen cabinets should
    be open shelves with no doors, because the doors just get in the way, hide what is contained therein,
    and are essential useless. I must admit, however, that I love reading the author's insights on things
    with which I disagree with him, and I have to admit that even on such issues... he's got good points!
    Many times I find myself saying "Almost, thou persuadest me."

    To be fair, I actually do agree with the author's views regarding the vast majority of his observations,
    as they are all just good common-sense approaches, and I must admit they often leave me thinking
    "Yes, that's such a beautifully simple truth... why don't we always build it that way, or do it that way?"

    This book gives you the benefit of the sage wisdom of an author who is genuinely worth reading
    and considering. Even though this book is decades-old, most of its observations are timeless.
    It's so hard to classify the book. Is it a Western approach to Feng Shui ... without all the questionable
    Eastern Spiritualism, and more of practical philosophy on how to best craft your environment?
    Or is it better described as foundational reading for everyone from a City Planner, to an Architect,
    to anyone building a house, to anyone one looking to make their home a more pleasant place?

    However you choose to classify it... this book is a unique, delightful treatise on how things should
    ideally be in order for human beings to be more comfortable, productive, and happy in their surroundings.
    151 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    I keep dipping into it. Not just a reference, but a world view made practical.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2004
    i first learned about alexander through my study of software engineering. i'm an artist working on generative/evolutionary digital art, both visual and sonic, and i'm also in the process of studying to build a house. alexander's books have been an inspiration to me in all of these fields. i won't expound on the positives, as others have already done so, and my five stars give you an idea of how i feel about these books. there are quite a few negatives though:

    a) the price of these books is outrageous, why are they not available in a cheap paperback edition. if mr. alexander really wants to change the world he would do well to look at the open source software movement, specifically the ideal of open documentation. mr. alexander has a website on which he talks about freedom and idealism, etc... however, the book is not free, instead, it is very expensive, but more importantly, is not free to copy and redistribute. one gets the feeling that there is an element of the california guru in all of this. that he is peddling utopia to the hyper-comfortable. ok that sounds really harsh, but it makes me very angry that such a resource is not distributed freely, especially in the developing world. mr. alexander if you read this, please consider establishing an open on-line repository of your patterns, perhaps in wiki format, so that other patterns can be added, and so that your existing patterns can be amended through time and translated to other languages. i realize that most people in the developing world do not have access to the internet btw, but at least it would allow the people or organizations who do to print and distribute copies freely.

    b) there is quite a stark difference between the more rigorous and engineering oriented 'notes on the synthesis of form' and the later work. i think in the later work he correctly ditched the engineering jargon because he deemed it unnecessarily cumbersome, and also realized that it is not necessary to build a house. peasants with no engineering or mathematical background have been building beautiful buildings for ages, however in NOTSOF he spends considerable time espousing the idea of a generative grammar as a way of managing the immense complexity of most engineering/design tasks. for instance when he gets into the problem of manufacturing a tea kettle which solves both manufacturing and design constraints. i'd really like to see more patterns dealing directly with issues of energy management and ecological well being, which by definition would have to be more technical, but not by a great margin if explained in simple language. this way a house could be organically "grown", but with energy efficiency there as a morphological force from the outset.

    c) in general the books could be shorter and less repetitive. there is a bit too much advocacy, and they often read like a some kind of new age self help manual, on the surface that is. these books can survive the new age surface feel precisely because they are so deep, but i think that less self-advocacy would significantly lighten them and would probably also manage to shave off most of the new age baggage.

    and finally, my advice to the software engineer, is to first read 'a timeless way of building', which will give you a strong idea about how patterns work. i also highly recommend 'notes on the synthesis of form' to anybody designing anything. i don't think that 'a pattern language' is that necessary to read, unless you want to build houses, or are just a big fan of alexander's (of which i am both).

    i based this review on 'the timeless way of building', 'a pattern language', 'notes on the synthesis of form', and 'the production of houses'.

    i can't wait to read 'the nature of order'

    thanks mr. alexander!!
    46 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Diana wood
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book must read by building designers.
    Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2024
    Excellent book, I recommend anyone who is interested in design their own home or renovation to read it. I bought this book for a friend who is a builder.
  • Rui Tinoco Luz
    5.0 out of 5 stars excelentehqed cover book binding and content
    Reviewed in Spain on October 1, 2023
    The haedcover book binding is of gigh quality, if feels sturdy in your hands, the ink seems if pigment type and dark enough, the paper is of good quality. The book itself is good as many other reviews have stated before. It covers the author's (there are several, not just Christopher Alexander, although he is the main author) views with his reasoning on why different approaches to building make us happier and bring calm and enjoyment to our lives. The author's use a confidece system where thow asterisks (**) mean they are highly confident in their suggestions, one (*) not highly and no asterisk means they believe that pattern to be true but thy lake empirical evidence. This book was highly influential in different areas such as computer science, where the pattern approach was used as a model to diffeten well known books. It was also an influence to game design books, which were inspired by its structure as shell's "a book of lenses". Nowadays it can be regarded as old, but it is still a classic and a gateway to understand the thinking process of Christopher Alexander.
  • Yan
    5.0 out of 5 stars une référence
    Reviewed in France on June 27, 2019
    une référence pour les architectes soucieux de la vocation de leur profession et une possibilité de compréhension et de rencontre entre le profane et le professionnel.
  • Sriraam P
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is an amazing book that architects must buy.
    Reviewed in India on February 2, 2019
    It is one of the most phenomenal piece of work. This book suggests an empirical approach to design problems. Much like engineering design, architectural design can be empirical too. This book is a first and fantastic effort at that.

    I have referred to this book uncountable number of times while designing. Very very useful.
  • MAtt BEamish
    5.0 out of 5 stars Full of ideas
    Reviewed in Australia on February 20, 2021
    There are so many ways to read and interpret this book. It’s hugely thick but full of a multitude of ideas for more people-oriented communities and homes. It doesn’t need to be followed dogmatically but can give significant insight into how to build more “homely” homes. Print and image quality are more than good enough (but remember, it’s an older book). I’ve wanted it for years and finely have my own copy.