Book Review
Title: A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
Author: Christopher Alexander, et al
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: January 1, 1977
ISBN: 978-0195019193
“No social group…can survive without constant informal contact among its members” (p. 618). Alexander’s book highlights hundreds of detailed ways in which human interaction must be promoted and invigorated by the planning and construction of cities, parks, neighborhoods, houses, rooms, sidewalks, yards, gardens, public spaces, office buildings, commercial spaces, and many more. The very foundation of human survival rests in frequent face-to-face interaction, and deep in-person connections reinforced by daily renewal, in person. A Pattern Language is about optimizing physical space-and-structure to maximize personal, social, and spiritual wellbeing.
Alexander astounds with his breadth of knowledge and way-down-in-the-weeds detailed insights into all permutations of family life, professional life, community life, recreational time, work time, conversation time, indoors, outdoors, and every other aspect of life and society. For example, if you don’t know exactly how to create space that’s both indoors and outdoors, and why it’s important, this book will answer all your questions.
The book is not about interior design. But it provides a thorough analysis of interior juxtaposition of furniture, fireplaces, fixtures, walls, angles, windows, window boxes, doors, ceiling variations (e.g., vaulted), stairways (e.g., width, steepness, location), height and width of everything, optimal dimensions, lattice, porches, construction materials, appliances, locations of everything inside and out, all with profound insights into how these factors interact and the results of each in everyday life. It also provides a thorough analysis of outdoor juxtaposition of sidewalks, parks, woodsy areas, gardens, streets, speed limits, parking areas, restaurants, shopping areas, proximity of town centers, swimming pools, borders, offices vis-à-vis neighborhoods, and many more. Alexander recommends sizes, dimensions, layouts, angles, materials to use, interplay between spaces, for all of the above.
Most reviews and summaries of the book that I have seen focus on the pattern of the language, which is understandable given the title. But I was most impressed by the way the language patterns reinforce the substance of content—making life more livable. The book offers a thousand macro and micro plans and parameters for doing just that. The recommendations are not merely the author’s opinions. Exhaustive research supports the recommendations. Alexander did his homework, and cites the sources that underpin the reasoning in every respect. Having said that, the author is transparent where a recommendation is more hypothesis that proof. In any event, the reader decides if, what, and how much to adopt or investigate further.
The intimate detail would be hard to visualize on its own. So every major point is illustrated with photographs, drawings, and other graphical reinforcements.
I enjoyed reading the book immensely. People who love life and/or patterns will enjoy reading it too.