Christopher Alexander

Christopher Alexander ( born October 4, 1936 in Vienna ) is an American architect, architectural theorist, systems theorist and philosopher of the 20th century.

Life

Christopher Alexander was born in 1936 in Vienna and grew up in Oxford and Chichester, England. He graduated from the prestigious University of Cambridge, where he studied mathematics and architecture. He received his doctorate at Harvard University in architecture; for his dissertation, later published under the title Notes on the Synthesis of Form, him the first gold medal for research from the American Institute of Architects ( AIA) has been awarded. In 1963 he became a professor of architecture at the University of California, Berkeley and founded the Institute of Urban and Regional Planning ( Center for Environmental Structure, CES). 1980 Professor Christopher Alexander was appointed a member of the Royal Swedish Academy. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ( Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ) in 1996. In 2001 he retired after 38 years of continuous teaching. In 2009 he was awarded the Vincent Scully price.

Christopher Alexander is also one of the trustees of Prince Charles for Wales 's Institute of Architecture.

Science

Christopher Alexander is an architectural theorist with the trilogy A Pattern Language emerged ( A Pattern Language ), A Timeless Way of Building and The Oregon Experiment (see University of Oregon ). The books were created simultaneously. They deal with the theoretical derivation, implementation and experimental realization of his ideas. His theses are discussed, especially in the English-speaking world. Alexander's positions have worldwide attention in the design methodology.

Christopher Alexander is the father of the so-called design patterns ( design patterns ). This approach seeks to bring together different aspects of complex architecture and logical structures. Structures are divided and linked in patterns ( patterns ). In the scientific method can therefore be very well illustrates the complexity. Alexander's ideas were first, later taken up by Kent Beck and Ward Cunningham of the so-called Gang of Four, who transferred the approach to the computer science and thus significantly influenced today's software development methodology.

Christopher Alexander's architectural theory approaches are controversial among experts; they apply to some as postmodern in the reactionary sense, other than still the most comprehensive contemporary approach to the development of construction.

Philosophy and systems theory

Alexander's late work The Nature of Order has a philosophical system and analytical character and develops a comprehensive theory of living systems. Important elements include a holistic view, the empirical approach ( typical system characteristics, patterns), the emphasis is on generative processes and structure-preserving transformations that focus on nature and the withdrawal of the role of the architect in favor of the co-decision directly affected.

Effect

Developed by Alexander principles, especially the concept of pattern language, have been taken up and developed in many fields outside of architecture.

Examples:

Works (selection)

  • Christopher Alexander: Notes On The Synthesis Of Form. Oxford University Press, New York, 1970 ( with Preface to the Paperback Edition), ISBN 0-674-62751-2
  • Christopher Alexander: Notes On The Synthesis Of Form. Oxford University Press, New York 1964, ISBN 0-674-62750-4
  • Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein (1974). ' A Collection of Patterns Which Generate Multi-Service Centres ' in Declan and Margrit Kennedy ( eds. ): The Inner City. Architects Yearbook 14, Elek, London. ISBN 0 236 15431 1
  • Christopher Alexander: A Pattern Language. Towns, Buildings, Construction, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein, Max Jacobson, Ingrid F. King and Shlomo Angel, Oxford University Press, New York 1977, ISBN 0195019199 Christopher Alexander: A Pattern Language. Towns, buildings, construction, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein, Max Jacobson, Ingrid F. King and Shlomo Angel, Löcker Verlag, Vienna 1995, ( German translation of A Pattern Language, published by Hermann Czech. ), ISBN 385409-179 - 6
  • Christopher Alexander: The Nature of Order. An essay on the art of building and the nature of the Universe. Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, ISBN 0-9726529-0-6 The Phenomenon of Life. 2002 ( Volume 1 ), ISBN 0-9726529-1-4
  • The Process of Creating Life. 2002 ( Volume 2 ), ISBN 0-9726529-2-2
  • A Vision of a Living World. 2005 ( Volume 3 ), ISBN 0-9726529-3-0
  • The Luminous Ground. 2004 ( Volume 4 ), ISBN 0-9726529-4-9
  • Christopher Alexander, Hajo Neis, Maggie More Alexander: The Battle for the Life and Beauty of the Earth: A Struggle in between Two World -Systems, Oxford University Press, New York 2012, ISBN 0199898073
Postmodernism Permaculture Integrated Authority File
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