Charles Alexander is something of a cult classic in particular architectural circles, but virtually unknown otherwise. An article featured on Arts & Letters Daily about two years ago praised him so profusely that I decided to give his five volume tome a skim once we lived near a library that had it. If you are ever inclined to try something similar, I’d suggest skimming the italicized portions of volume 1 and actually reading volume 3 (A Pattern Language). The others basically repeat what he’s said elsewhere in greater detail.
His thesis is that modern (1960) building practices using strict blueprints and prefabricated pieces has create structures and built environments that impede human flourishing. Through a number of examples/pilot projects, he argues that each building should be uniquely suited to its own site, and this can be done cheaper than current processes if we remove the division between architect and general contractor and involve the (future) inhabitants directly in the building process.
Specific recommendations range from impractical to insane, but his general theories about town layout (people tend to go shop in the direction of the town center, even if there is another, marginally closer option in the other direction), interactions between people and environment (water near a building makes it more popular, especially if the water is accessible, for example, in a fountain), and correlation between physical and psychological (natural light from two sides of a room make it feel bigger and more welcoming) are intriguing.
-DC
I didn’t know anything about Charles Alexander, but his thesis sounds absolutely spot on. He must have traveled to Eastern Europe and seen what the Communists built — square cement high rises with tiny windows, all agonizingly the same, all abysmally anti-flourishing. Does he mention La Courvoisier, who ostensibly came up with the pattern? He also chose the color gray…
CHRISTOPHER Alexander, not Charles!!!!!!!