Is it even possible to think that the thought of Christopher Alexander and many others will come to fruition?
The built-up world is in many respects fixed. Its patterns are inimical to those proposed by Alexander. Alexander would build from the natural impulses he attributes to us. The world is built with the forces created by a melding of profit motive, a hierarchical perspective and a belief that originality is synonymous with being exceptional.
In other words, architecture is either designed to fulfill onerous needs — as in housing masses of people with little respect for their needs or their input — or to impress society with something that may have nothing to do with utility or natural impulses, but everything to do with creating a buzz redounding to the individual glory of the architect.
Pattern Language in architecture is a willingness to start over. But starting over is difficult when what we have is not merely in place, but very much in place.
Yesterday I went out to Coney Island. I took the N and Q trains for an hour each way and made it with relative ease. It was a great day. The ocean was there. Waves were there. Kids played in the sand. There was a barker. I even had a Nathan’s hot dog to celebrate. I felt the wind and sun. I will remember it.
How would pattern language build in an area already so fixed?
The answer might be with small things. Like the gradual population of vacant space with outdoor tables and chairs. Like making it easier for small shops to coexist with large apartment complexes. Like reducing the clog of traffic and the enhancement of public modes of going to and fro.
We Also Need To Start From Scratch
The main things I would like to see done involve essentially a tabula rasa — a blank page, somewhere where space exists — say the space contained in a square with a mile on each side.
Within this space imagine two or three structures somewhat similar to Rogers Center in Toronto.
These would seek to be ecologically self contained. In other words to have sustainability built in via recycling and solar and wind collection — along with a mix of residences and commercial and social and educational and athletic establishments sufficient to become the basis of a sustainable economy.
I see Pueblo like residences reached by pedestrian walkways in a spiral from top to bottom and bottom to top. I see sitting and walking areas in profusion as there would be few or no moving vehicles. I see local artistic endeavors. Local health nodes where one can get preventive things done within a few steps of home. I see Internet nodes so there is some separation between home and cyber-work.
In essence I see some entrepreneurial initiative to defy the present in the name of a future we have not even envisioned yet.
The US is way behind in such discussions. That’s too bad. But it can be remedied.
More on Pattern Language:
See the brief at http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/pattern-language/ and then read in sequence:
Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four,, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen
