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Summary: it isn't about architecture
Review: Nominally about architecture and urban planning, this book has more wisdom about psychology, anthropology, and sociology than any other that I've read. Nearly every one of this volume's 1170 pages will make you question an assumption that you probably didn't realize you were making. In a section entitled "Four-Story Limit", Alexander notes that "there is abundant evidence to show that high buildings make people crazy." Underneath is a photo of San Franisco's Transamerica tower, captioned with a quote from Orwell's 1984: "The Ministry of Truth--Minitrue, in Newspeak--was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up terrace after terrace 300 metres in the air." Alexander backs up this polemic with convincing arguments that high-rise living removes people too far from the casual society of the street, from children playing in the yard, and that apartment-dwellers therefore become isolated. Alexander spends a lot of time in this book trying to figure out how to restore the damage to our communities that have been done by automobiles. He argues for better public spaces and for more integration of children, old people, and workers. He argues for more access to water by more people. Many of Alexander's arguments are against the scale of modern systems. Public schools spend a fortune on building and administration precisely because they are so physically large [I've seen statistics showing that our cities spend only about one-third of their budgets on classrooms and teachers]. If we had shopfront schools and fired all the school system personnel who don't teach, we might be able to get student-teacher ratios down to 8 or 10:1 without an increase in cost. Similarly, Alexander argues for smaller retail shops, smaller factories (or at least identifiable small workgroups within factories rather than hundreds of faceless cogs) and more master/apprentice instruction. What if you like the depredations of modernity and aren't interested in a utopian world where basic human needs are met? Can you learn anything about architecture from this guy? Absolutely. You'll learn that light is everything. Your bedroom has to have eastern light so that the sun wakes you up. Your best living quarters should have southern light. All the rooms should have light from at least two sides, otherwise there will be too much contrast and you'll just have to draw the shades. If you've got kids, make them sleep and play in their own wing of the house. Build a realm for yourself and your wife on a different floor. Meet the kids in the kitchen. To avoid cluttering my apartment, I give away virtually all the books that I buy these days. I'm keeping this one and plan to re-read it every year.
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Summary: Inspiring & Exciting
Review: I was so excited when I stumbled across this book in 1986-87. The first house I owned has two rooms with lights from two walls and a third room with one window. It's so true, we almost never go to that room, even though it has a very large window that looks out to the beautiful backyard. Indeed, the light is not balanced and it creates uncomfortable shadow. After reading the book, we started building our own house in 1988 incorporating many of the ideas from the book. We could not afford a contractor, so we became owner-builder even though we had no knowledge in construction. We bought other books to teach us building foundation and framing. The house was completed about 1 1/2 years later. It has a south facing bright kitchen and family room. Four bedrooms have lights from two walls. Two of them have eastern exposure that gives that gentle morning sunlights. There's a separate living quarter for guest or renting out. Our yard has paths that lead to discoveries. ...... Looking back, we achieved something that seemed impossible among our friends and relatives. This book has changed our lives and given us confidence in everything else we do.
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Summary: Why did my teachers never tell me about it... ?
Review: When I knew a "A Pattern Language" and "The Timeless Way of Building", I thought... Why did my teachers never tell me about it when I was a student... ? It was almost seven years ago. Fortunately, now I'm a teacher and I'm committed my self to do as much as possible in order to encourage my students to read and put into practice those wonderful books. Rene Ariza, architect, Bogotá, Colombia, South America (reneariza@hotmail.com).
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Summary: A Must Read for City Planners
Review: Alexander's work is an invaluable resource for any city planner. I find myself referring to the book on a regular basis.
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Summary: Don't build home without it
Review: There are certain design principles that are self-evident truths, commonsense but uncommonly applied to modern towns and buildings, painfully evident in characterless and cheerless houses. Most of us have these evolved truths deep within us but we rarely think of them. Given here are 253 patterns, each consisting of a design challenge, discussion, illustration, and solution. Your knowledge of these patterns can help you to create a home that is a pleasure to live in, one that is imaginative, inspiring, healthful, and psychologically satisfying as well as fully functional. I cannot imagine designing any building without refreshing my memory of these wonderful patterns. First published in 1977, this book has already attained the status of classic.
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Summary: this book inspired Wil Wright to create "the sims"
Review: Wil Wright was asked recently what inspired him to create his "sim" games (simCity, theSims, etc.) and he mentioned that it was after reading this book.
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Summary: Cool ideas
Review: This book will push you to think about the spaces you live in and how they affect you, and what you can do about it. It's a must read for anyone interested in designing liveable space. Yes, it's dated and utopian, but that doesn't make the ideas any less important.... Read Susanka's "The Not So Big House" to see how an architecture firm is applying Alexander's ideas today.
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Summary: Excellent ideas though a little political and outspoken
Review: This is a wonderful resource for any project. The authors present good ideas on how to improve any design but the political and direct tone sometimes question the validy. Overall, a must have for any planner, architect, or home-improver!
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Summary: A must read!
Review: This and Catherine Dunne's "Interior Designing For All Five Senses" are no less than must reads for people wanting to stay a step ahead going into the next millenium.
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Summary: Required reading for designers, planners and architects
Review: Part 2 of 3 part series. This book is the dictionary for A Timeless Way of Building. The Oregon Experiment is a case study of the use of these ideas to plan a college campus. This book is about functional design for humans rather than design for design's sake. It directly refutes the real estate industry's insistence on neutral design for quick sale (which is the industry's goal - not the goal of a homeowner!) It promotes design which fits the needs and desires of the user, not the developer or architect. The philosophy involves the users heavily in the process of design, permitting integrated design without requiring comprehensive knowledge of all interacting factors on the part of the designers, it is a way of modularizing the design process into smaller, comprehensible units which can be understood and discussed in a useful way. You will not be disappointed in reading these books. Yes, it's dated a bit, especially in it's language approach to social issues. Yes, it's Utopian, but not impractical. No, all of the patterns do not apply to all people in all places, but then, they are not intended to. What is important is the basic premise: That physical environment design can either promote community or divide people. That there exist basic patterns of interaction between people, buildings, roads and environment. No, you cannot just change your entire community overnight into a utopia (mores the shame) however, these books can help to redefine how your community grows and develops to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community. All of the research is fairly old, but it is research into basic human actions and reactions to their surroundings - not something which is subject to a great deal of change - examples cover several thousand years. If you're tired of strip malls, rampant development for development's sake, neighborhoods without character or community, irritating traffic patterns, multiple hour commutes, buildings which are uncomfortable to live and work in or just interested in improving your corner of the world, read these books and apply some of the principles wherever you feel they will fit your life. I own multiple copies and recommend it highly.
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