For those who believe the beauty of architecture – its warmth, sound and texture – is drowned out by the clamour of capital, shoddy braggadocio and celebrity shape-making, Christopher Alexander, who has died aged 85, is a hero.
A prolific writer, thinker, teacher and builder, Chris is best known for his 1977 work A Pattern Language, one of the New York Times’ 100 best non-fiction books of the 20th century.
It’s a lovely thing: 253 aphorisms, each setting out a happy arrangement of the built environment, from self-governing city regions down to ornament and detailing. ‘104, Site Repair: when there’s a nice bit and a wrecked bit, build on the nasty to look out on the nice’; ‘159, Light on Two Sides of a Room: a big window on one wall is glare; two smaller ones, on different walls, is modelling’.
Link to Full Obituary of Christopher Alexander.
