@ablerism where should one start with Christopher Alexander? Just jump right into A Pattern Language?
@calebgreene Yes! I’d say read the intro and a few of the city-scale patterns upfront (e.g., Identifiable Neighborhood, Community of 7000) to get a sense of the human-scale conviction behind the project. Resonances of Illich, Schumacher, and the like. And then follow the wiki-style structure of suggested connections attached to each entry, to wherever your curiosity takes you, all over the book. It’s really a flip-through reference. CA thought of Timeless Way as the first half of Pattern, but the publisher would only do it in separate volumes. Timeless Way is kind of the “why” to APL’s “how,” but you get lots of why along the way in APL with the vivid examples.
@ablerism Thanks! This is perfect.
Somehow I hadn’t heard of him until a few months ago and now I’ve heard him referenced in an essay, a post, and a podcast. I guess that means it’s time to investigate.
@JohnBrady @calebgreene @ablerism - We’ve found APL to be truly useful in thinking through several house remodels and backyard projects. Plus, it’s just fun to explore the ideas and the connections between the ideas.
@JohnBrady @calebgreene Yes! I have a piece in Comment coming out where I try to place him among that 70s crowd but not in the stereotype we make of that cohort: all back-to-the-land refusals of modernity. Much more interesting stuff happening.
@JimRain Same with friends of mine! I love that eminent practicality wed to the wonky traffic science and occasional poetic rhapsodizing.