Go BackOrnament and Function as Products of Unfolding
Ornament arises as part of the design process, when a person is making and seeks to embellish this "something" while making it. It arises as a result of the latent centers in the uncompleted thing requiring still more centers, requiring still more structure, in order to be complete.
The ornamental structure most often comes from the material, and from the way a thing is being made. Ornaments in wood, have different form and structure from ornaments in cast concrete, or in shot concrete. Brick patterns create fine structure, as colored patterns on hand-glazed tilework.
Ornament is not something which is imposed to finish things off. It is, in itself, of the essence. It is an essential part of the design process, connected to the shaping and geometry of its structural components, introducing centers in a range of scales.
Furthermore, the function of a thing, and its ornament, are not two separable features: they are inseparable. When a thing is well made, then this thing is always at once practical and at the same time an ornament.
Areas of focus:
Design and Building Process
Guiding idea:
Structure Preserving Transformations
Thoughts and Arguments Explored and Developed
Ornament as detail emerges directly from the making process
Making lifelike animals and plants in the fabric of buildings
Simplicity of ornamental human figures
The joy of building is that, in a profound sense, I feel the whole building as an ornament –whose rooms, passages, staircases, windows, ceilings, paving, benches lamps, are all extensions of that ornament
References
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The Linz Café, Das Linz Café
1981
Authors:Christopher AlexanderPublisher:Oxford University Press, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Löcker Verlag, Vienna, AustriaNo of pages:95 pp“The Linz Café”, a bilingual book, both in German and English, is the fourth in “The Center for Environmental Structure Series” on architecture published by Oxford University Press. The book describes the application of the theory to a single building commissioned by ... -
The Nature of Order - An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book One - The Phenomenon of Life
2002
Authors:Christopher AlexanderPublisher:The Center for Environmental Structure Publishing, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.No of pages:476 pp“The Phenomenon of Life”, the first volume of “The Nature of Order” series proposes a scientific view of the world in which all space-matter has perceptible degrees of life and sets this understanding of order as an intellectual basis for ...
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The Nature of Order - An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three - A Vision of a Living World
2005
Authors:Christopher AlexanderPublisher:The Center for Environmental Structure Publishing, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.No of pages:697 pp“A Vision of a Living World”, the third volume of “The Nature of Order” series, presents, for the first time, a full spectrum of Alexander’s and CES built and unbuilt works. The book describes hundreds of buildings, plans, neighborhoods, drawings, ...
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Chapter 5. Ornaments
PublicationBook title:
The Linz Café, Das Linz Café
Pages:51-57Digitized -
Appendix. A Small Example of a Living Process, 17 / Plasterwork Experiments
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Two – The Process of Creating LifePages:590Digitized -
Appendix. A Small Example of a Living Process, 24 / The Lily Tiles
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Two – The Process of Creating LifePages:596-599Digitized -
Appendix. A Small Example of a Living Process, 35 / The Kitchen Floor
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Two – The Process of Creating LifePages:613-614Digitized -
Appendix. A Small Example of a Living Process, 36 / Plasterwork
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Two – The Process of Creating LifePages:615-617Digitized -
Appendix. A Small Example of a Living Process, 37 / Window Openings and Window
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Two – The Process of Creating LifePages:617-619Digitized -
Appendix. A Small Example of a Living Process, 38 / Balustrades of the Upstairs Balconies and the Concrete Frieze
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Two – The Process of Creating LifePages:620-621Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 10 / In a Living Building, Everything is Ultimately Ornament
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:610-613Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 2 / Ornament as Detail Which Emerges Directly from the Process of Making
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:582-585Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 3 / Black-and-White Marble Floors and Surfaces
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:586-589Digitized -
18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 4 / Making a Colored, Ornamented Floor
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:590-594Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 5 / Other Kinds of Ornament
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:594-598Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 6 / Hand-Glazed Tilework
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:598-601Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 7 / Making Lifelike Animals and Plants in the Fabric of the Building
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:602-606Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 8 / Simplicity of Ornamental Human Figures
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:607-608Digitized -
Chapter 18. Ornament as Part of all Unfolding, 9 / Structural Qualities Created by the Fundamental Process in all Ornament
PublicationBook title:
The Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book Three – A Vision of a Living WorldPages:608-610Digitized
SEE ALL Book Chapters
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Etna Street Cottage
1974
Etna Street, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1974Client:Center for Environmetal StructureC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander with his students in the 1974 Spring studio class Arch. 209, including Walter V. Wendler and Donald CornerContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$3.000Project stages:Pattern language for the project by C.E.S. Layout on the site No drawings were produced Users involved in the construction Innovative construction methodsExperimental building project, two-story 400 sq. ft. cottage, with a hollow wooden structure filled with concrete and featherweight concrete vaults. Completed in ten weeks, without a building permit at the back of the C.E.S. office on Etna Street, and was ...
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House
1977 to
1984
4207 Arthur Road, 94553, Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1984Client:Center for Environmetal Structure - C.E.S. DirectorsC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Jonathan Fefferman, Harissos Tsiringas, Gary Black, David Dacus, Olasheni AgbabiakaContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$120,000Project stages:Layout on the site by C.E.S. Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Users involved in the construction Innovative construction methodsThe second building completed on the Martinez site, was a 2,000 square feet house. A gunite all-concrete building as well, it was the first sizable and fully functional project in which C.E.S. used gunite, while applying all permit and specification ...
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Linz Café
1980
Linz , AustriaCommercial, Realized, Construction completed in Jul-1980Client:Forum Design; Österreichisches Institut für Visuelle Gestaltung - Angela HareiterC.E.S. staff:Christopher AlexanderContractor:Construction management by the Center for Environmental Structure with local subcontractorsProject cost:$35.000Project stages:Layout on the site by C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisionsBuilt as part of the international exposition "Forum Design" and designed to be "portable". Wooden building overlooking the Danube, with the first floor of the building raised to clear the ten-foot-high river embarkment. Yellow and red exterior, three stories, 2,300 ...
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House for John and Mara Lighty
1981 to
1989
2675 Harness Drive, Berryessa Estates, Pope Valley, Napa County, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in Aug-1989Client:Mr. & Mrs. John and Mara LightyC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary Black, Gernot MittersteinerContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$72,788Project stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Use of full scale mock-ups Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Users involved in the construction Innovative constructiTerraced house built for a couple; the house consists of six building volumes, gracefully positioned on a wooded slope among white oak trees, and includes the living room - kitchen volume, the studio volume, the bedroom - library volume, a ...
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Sala House
1981 to
1983
700 Hillside, 94706, Albany, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in Jun-1983Client:Mr. & Mrs. Andre and Anna SalaC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Gary Black, Bob Smith, David Turtle, Seth Wachtel, Andre SalaContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$180.000Design and construction process:1) Personal vision: C.E.S. worked with the Sala family to gain an understanding of their needs and to derive from them a deep and personal vision of their house. 2) Layout on the site: several sessions on the site, laying out the exterior edges of the house volume along with outside courtyards, completed by C.E.S. staff working with the Salas. The interior rooms of the ground floor were also laid out on the site. 3) Preparation of drawings: At the end of the layout process it was possible for C.E.S. to prepare a set of drawings for the building permit from the City of Albany. 4) Construction commences and design continues; C.E.S. was the general contractor, and so the design process which had been begun in the first phase was carried through the construction phase, with many crucial on-site design decisions being made weekly, even daily, while the house was under construction. 5) Finishing touches: Hand-painted woodwork, color, details, furnishings, were done by C.E.S. staff and construction crews.Project stages:Pattern language for the project by clients and C.E.S. Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Use of full scale mock-ups Direct Construction management along with on-site design decisThree-story tower, 20 feet by 20 feet in plan on each floor, on a wooded, sloping site. The interior structure of the house is wood post and beam with pine panelling and hand-painted surfaces, and the exterior is a red ...
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Eishin Campus - High School: Dining Hall
1982 to
1985
Nihongi 112-1, Iruma-shi, Saitama Prefecture, JapanEducational, Realized, Construction completed in 1985Client:Higashino High School - Hisae Hosoi, Managing DirectorC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Hans-Joachim Neis, Gary Black, Ingrid Fiksdahl-King, Artemis AnninouContractor:Fujita Corporation, Tokyo, JapanProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Construction Drawings done after layout Construction management along with on-site design decisions Innovative construction methodsThe Dining Hall is located on a high point of the site overlooking the lake, with an extensive lawn in front of it, and the bridge crossing the lake leading into it. It is a wooden, long and narrow building ...
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Eishin Campus - High School: College Buildings D and E
1982 to
1987
Nihongi 112-1, Iruma-shi, Saitama Prefecture, JapanEducational, Realized, Construction completed in Jun-1987Client:Higashino High School - Hisae Hosoi, Managing DirectorC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Hans-Joachim Neis, Gary Black, Ingrid Fiksdahl-King, Artemis AnninouContractor:Fujita Corporation, Tokyo, JapanProject cost:$1,500,000Project stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Construction Drawings done after layout Construction management along with on-site design decisions Innovative construction methodsThe two college buildings on the north side of the College Complex were incorporated into the High School; they are located to the right and left of the Central Hall, flanked by the Arts and Science buildings. Each two-storey college ...
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Eishin Campus - High School: Single Homebase Buildings
1982 to
1985
Nihongi 112-1, Iruma-shi, Saitama Prefecture, JapanEducational, Realized, Construction completed in 1985Client:Higashino High School - Hisae Hosoi, Managing DirectorC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Hans-Joachim Neis, Gary Black, Ingrid Fiksdahl-KingContractor:Fujita Corporation, Tokyo, JapanProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Construction Drawings done after layout Construction management along with on-site design decisionsThe Homebase Buildings form the homebase street. They are two-story masonry buildings with pitched tiled roofs and concrete ornamental wall friezes. Each one has its own garden, with a stair leading to the second floor classrom. There are five such ...
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Eishin Campus - High School: Double Homebase Buildings
1982 to
1985
Nihongi 112-1, Iruma-shi, Saitama Prefecture, JapanEducational, Realized, Construction completed in 1985Client:Higashino High School - Hisae Hosoi, Managing DirectorC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Hans-Joachim Neis, Gary Black, Ingrid Fiksdahl-KingContractor:Fujita Corporation, Tokyo, JapanProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Construction Drawings done after layout Construction management along with on-site design decisionsThe Homebase Buildings form the homebase street. They are two-story masonry buildings with pitched tiled roofs and concrete ornamental wall friezes. Each one has its own garden, with a stair leading to the second floor classrom. There are two double ...
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Eishin Campus - High School: Administration Building
1982 to
1985
Nihongi 112-1, Iruma-shi, Saitama Prefecture, JapanEducational, Realized, Construction completed in 1985Client:Higashino High School - Hisae Hosoi, Managing DirectorC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Hans-Joachim Neis, Gary Black, Artemis AnninouContractor:Fujita Corporation, Tokyo, JapanProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Construction Drawings done after layout Construction management along with on-site design decisions Innovative construction methodsThe administration building is located on the main suare, opposite from the Great Hall. It is a masonry building with an intricate ornamental lattice-like pattern on its second floor exterior wall. Within its 5,430 square feet floor area, it includes ...
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Fort Mason Bench
1984
Marina District, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.Other, Realized, Construction completed in Jun-1984Client:CoEvolution Quarterly; Uncommon Courtesy, School of Compassionate Skills - Irmine Steltzner; Whole Earth Catalogue - Stewart BrandC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Rodney Moore, 22 workshop participantsContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureSponsor:Fort Mason Center, Marina Green, San Francisco - Mr. Mark Kasky, DirectorDesign and construction process:1) Apprentice workshop announced: The workshop was given under the auspices of "Uncommon Courtesy", a non-profit organization financed by the "Whole Earth Catalogue and Co-evolution Quarterly". Twenty "students" joined. 2) Making a mockup on site: The first design act was to place several hundered concrete blocks in a large arched shape. This mock-up was used to depict the general layout of the bench. 3) Construction commences: Having the location and the overall shape, construction proceeded with more and more refinements in the general shape and details of the bench going on during construction. 4) Refinements: Sophisticated new techniques developed by C.E.S. were used to provide green and white polished marble inserts of animals, flowers, and abstract ornamentsProject stages:Layout on the site by workshop particants No drawings were produced Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Built by the workshop participantsA three-tiered masonry public bench and centerpiece, on the Fort Mason pier, overlooking Alcatraz Island. It was built within three weeks as part of the "Spirit in Design" workshop, beginning on 24-Mar-1984 following an announcement in "CoEvolution Quarterly". The main intent ...
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Heavy Timber Carpentry Workshop
1985 to
1986
4207 Arthur Road, 94553, Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Offices & Workshops, Realized, Construction completed in Apr-1986Client:Center for Environmetal Structure - C.E.S. DirectorsC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Gary Black, Seth Wachtel, Lance DomContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$50,000Project stages:Layout on the site by C.E.S. Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Users involved in the construction Innovative construction methodsThe third building completed on the Martinez site was a heavy timber carpentry workshop, 800 square feet of floor area, with 12"x12" columns and 8"x14" beams, specially engineered trusses and wood paneling. .
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Offices and Workshops for Sweet Potatoes Children's Clothing Factory
1985 to
1986
1509A San Pablo Avenue, 94702, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Offices & Workshops, Office Furniture, Realized, Construction completed in Apr-1986Client:Mrs. Anna Sala, Ms. Josie JurcivinaC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary Black, Mark BrinnerContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$20,000Design and construction process:1) Layout of the offices by "Sweet Potatoes" employees: They used a patented office furniture layout process developed by C.E.S. This process allowed users to work with C.E.S. staff to lay out all common areas and individual workstations for themselves. The result was a highly personalized plan of the office, generated entirely by "Sweet Potatoes" employees. 2) Design and fabrication of the individual pieces of furniture at the C.E.S. Workshop in Martinez 3) Installation of the furniture by C.E.S. Personnel: As pieces were completed, they were shipped to Sweet Potatoes, where the C.E.S. assembly crew installed the different items, including thick walls, columns, doorways, desks, lighting, ceilings, floors, cabinets, screens, chairs.Project stages:Office layout process used by clients Layout on site by clients and C.E.S. Design Development drawings done after layout Direct Construction management and on-site design decisions2,300 square feet of interior office space for the management and administrative staff for "Sweet Potatoes" clothing factory to accommodate two partners and eleven employees. All interior furnishings, walls, floors, ceilings, lighting, built-in cabinets, desks, storage, chairs, tables, custom fitted ...
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Multi-colored Hand-tiled Bench
1986
Eugene, OR, U.S.A.Other, Designed, Not builtClient:State Board of Higher Education, University Planning Office - Lotte Streisinger, Visual Arts CoordinatorC.E.S. staff:Christopher AlexanderProject stages:Concept DesignDesign proposal for a tiled bench, to be a gathering space, part of the Science Facilities Additions and Alterations project, on the campus of the University of Oregon. The proposal included drawings and model for the multicolored glazed tiled concrete ...
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Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless
1986 to
1990
Julian St. & Montgomery St., San Jose, CA, U.S.A.Civic, Realized, Construction completed in 1989; final interior painting in 1990Client:Housing for Independent People - Al DiLudovico, Executive DirectorC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Gary Black, Artemis Anninou, Carl Lindberg, James Maguire, Eleni Coromvli, Kleoniki TsotropoulouContractor:Oliver and Company, with Center for Environmetal Structure as major specialty subcontractorProject cost:$1,700,000Project stages:Pattern language for project by clients and C.E.S. Layout by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings Direct Construction management and on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.EDesign and construction of a shelter for homeless people, to serve 50 to 100 people, on a site of 13,000 sf. The building of 15,000 square feet includes offices, living areas with a dining hall, sleeping rooms, courtyards and gardens. ...
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House for Daniel Potash and Maureen McCabe
1986 to
1988
1341 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1988Client:Mr. Daniel Potash and Ms. Maureen McCabeC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Gary Black, Artemis Anninou, Chester Cervellino, Mark Brinner, Stephen Duff, Kleoniki TsotropoulouContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$150,000Project stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisionsComplete reconstruction of existing house, with emphasis on the house kitchen. Hand painted interiors, hand-plaster work, furniture, and garden terraces; benches, seats, table, fireplace and floor of kitchen --all built and painted by C.E.S. Total construction 2,500 square feet.
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Sala House Addition
1986 to
1988
700 Hillside, 94706, Albany, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in Jan-1988Client:Mr. & Mrs. Andre and Anna SalaC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Steven Duff, Kleoniki TsotropoulouContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$80,000Project stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Use of full scale mock-ups Direct Construction management along with on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.E.S. controlTwo-storey 700 square feet addition to the exisitng house, connected with it at the west facing wall. The extension includes a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom with hot tub. Wood post and beam interior with pine paneling ...
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Pasadena Waldorf School
1986 to
1988
209 East Mariposa , Altadena, CA, U.S.A.Educational, Designed, Not builtClient:Board of Trustees of the Pasadena Waldorf School - Mr. Barry Sanders, PresidentC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Kleoniki Tsotropoulou, Randall Schmidt, Seth WachtelProject cost:Expected construction cost: $2,000,000Project stages:Preliminary DesignMaster plan and building plans for ten buildings, including classrooms, assembly areas, gymnasium, workshops, and gardens; the total floor area of buildings was 24,000 square feet.
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House for Chris Upham and Stephanie Upham
1989 to
1994
37 Poppy Lane, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1994Client:Mr. & Mrs. Christopher and Stephanie UphamC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Randall Schmidt, Carl Lindberg, Gary Black, James MaguireContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$439,000Project stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisionsTwo-story family house, with 2,400 square feet floor area, designed with the participation of the clients. The construction of a massive 15 high foot high retaining wall and sewer reconstruction caused by unusual hill condition added $96,000 to the house ...
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Sullivan House
1990 to
1994
Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1996Client:Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Susie SullivanC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Katalin BendeContractor:Center for Environmetal StructureProject cost:$260,000Project stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.E.S. controlHouse reconstruction design and construction management. Concrete, redwood, fruitwood, plaster, terrazzo tiled floors and hand made metal detailed interiors.
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New Ryde Community
1991 to
1993
New Ryde, CA, U.S.A.Development Plan, Designed, Not builtClient:The Grand Island Company - Ms. Eleanor MoellerC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, othersProject stages:Preliminary DesignLocated outside of Sacramento, California, in the Delta region, this community was intended to be an integrated development of affordable, middle-income residential and commercial buildings and public spaces, focused on creating a sense of community and cohesion.
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Neighborhood of Five Houses: Gioja House
1992 to
1996
Lake Travis, Austin, TX, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1995Client:Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey and Linda GiojaC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall SchmidtContractor:Center for Environmetal Structure with Carl LindbergProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.E.S. controlDesign and construction of a family house for Geoffrey and Linda Gioja, with an area of 2.100 square feet.
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Neighborhood of Five Houses: Heisey House
1992 to
1996
Lake Travis, Austin, TX, U.S.A.Residential, Realized, Construction completed in 1995Client:Mr. & Mrs. James and Sylvia HeiseyC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall SchmidtContractor:Center for Environmetal Structure with Carl LindbergProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.E.S. controlDesign and construction of a family house for Jim and Sylvia Heisey, with an area of 2.000 square feet.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center
1994 to
1996
Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Civic, Realized, Construction completed in Nov. 1995Client:Edward James FoundationC.E.S. staff:Christopher Alexander, John Hewitt, students from "The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture", students from Portsmouth UniversityContractor:Center for Environmetal Structure, as Management Contractor and General Contractor of record, with John Hewitt as Project ManagerProject stages:Layout on the site by clients and C.E.S. Use of full scale mock-ups Design Development and Building Permit drawings done after layout Direct construction management and on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.E.S. control InnovativThe West Dean Center is a simple one-story masonry building with a large red-tiled roof and intricate brickwork for its thick walls. The building is surrounded by gardens, and its south facing wall has large arched windows overlooking the garden ...
SEE ALL Projects
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Black and white terrazzo floor
1981
Personal Work of Art, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Gernot MittersteinerThe first experiment for a marble-dust floor that Christopher Alexander had conducted.
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Painted wooden carved dolls
1984
Personal Work of Art, WoodworkingCreated by:Christopher AlexanderFour hand-carved dolls painted in gouache.
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Blue carved horse with yellow stars
1985
Personal Work of Art, WoodworkingCreated by:Christopher AlexanderHand-carved horse painted in gouache.
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Tiles with geometric pattern, produced in the Center for Environmental Structure workshop for a client
1985
Personal Work of Art, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander400 hand-glazed tiles in red, green, yellow, white, turquoise for Mary Ann Reese's fireplace; ceramic paint on white porcelain tile.
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Tiles glazed in light green and dark green
1985
Personal Work of Art, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander100 light green and dark green repeating tiles for a floor, made in the Martinez workshop; ceramic paint on white porcelain tile.
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Painting of the main courtyard for the "Mountain View Civic Center" competition entry
1986
Personal Work of Art, PaintingCreated by:Christopher AlexanderPen, ink and gouache final painting for the main interior courtyard of the Mountain View Civic Center, prepared for the invited design competition. The dominant feature of the painting is the frieze of the blue ceramic bas-relief horses around the ...
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Tile panel with green and red Seljuk pattern
1986
Personal Work of Art, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Kleoniki TsotropoulouGreen and red Seljuk pattern tiles, on a 2' X 3' panel, hand-painted and hand-glazed in the Martinez office workshop; ceramic paint on white porcelain tile.
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Tile panel with green, red, yellow and blue star pattern
1986
Personal Work of Art, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Seth WachtelTile panel with green, red, yellow and blue star pattern tiles, hand-painted and hand-glazed in the Martinez office workshop; ceramic paint on white porcelain tile.
SEE ALL Works of Art
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Etna Street Cottage: Ornament in door frame
1974
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher AlexanderS's cut with jig-saw after being drawn on one-inch planks; then filled with plaster.
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Linz Café: Hand-painted walls with flowers as ornament
1980
Work of Art for Project, Hand-painted InteriorCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Pamela AlexanderExterior walls painted yellow with some white and a touch of orange to light the orange of the canopy; hand-painted interior walls in green, apricot, yellow, red and green, with ornamental frieze and white flowers on the walls painted by ...
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Berryessa Terraced House: Multicolored blue diamond shaped tiles
1981
Work of Art for Project, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gernot MittersteinerThirty five diamond shaped porcelain tile fragments; hand drawn and painted, set into the foundation perimeter wall of the main house volume.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Ornamental concrete layers on the exterior wall envelope
1983
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Gary Black, Seth WachtelOrnamental concrete layers, both vertical and horizontal, painted white, in contrast to the blue of the wall large surfaces. The vertical concrete layers were incorporated in the formwork of columns and shear walls, while the horizontal concrete layers were shot ...
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Sala House: Kitchen terrazzo floor
1983
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Andre Sala, othersTerrazzo floor in light green crosses and dark grey stars, made of fine marble chips and cement.
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Eishin Campus - High School: Central Hall exterior wall X-truss, connected to the interior roof truss
1984
Construction System, Heavy Timber Load Bearing StructureCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim NeisLongitudinal X-truss on the long direction exterior wall of the building below the roof, connected to the interior curved truss of the building with moment connections. .
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Eishin Campus - High School: Gymnasium window shaping and details
1984
Building Detail, Window ShapingCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Artemis AnninouA row of unsual shaped windows, creating positive space in alternation with the beautifully shaped wall segments, and coherent individual centers, small and large.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses
1984
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni CoromvliRed, yellow and blue polished terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses made on a 400 sq. ft of a living room; with styrofoam lost form technique.
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Fort Mason Bench: Ornamental terrazzo panels
1984
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Rodney MooreHand-made ornamental terrazzo panels with animal figures on the vertical surfaces of an outdoor bench.
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Eishin Campus - High School: Administration building exterior wall with ornament
1985
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Artemis AnninouAdministration Building exterior wall treatment, shaped as a trellis of fine concrete splines.
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Eishin Campus - High School: Ornamental wall frieze for the homeroom buildings
1985
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, othersCast concrete ornaments on the wall frieze of the Homeroom buildings.
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Eishin Campus - High School: Main Gate terrazzo wall surface
1985
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim NeisThe main gate with checkered diagonal terrazzo surface made of cement and marble dust, ground to a polish.
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Eishin Campus - High School: Ornaments on the dining hall exterior wall
1985
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Gary Black, Artemis AnninouRow of curved diamonds on the front wall, alternating brown diamonds made of wood with white plastered surfaces. Brown and white create a balanced feeling of positive space and negative space.
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Haworth New Office Furniture System: Floor pattenrs / Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Floor pattenrs
1985
Work of Art for Project, Office Space Element, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary BlackFloor constructed of varnished pine blocks in a variety of patterns. Two different paterns were initially built for the Sweet Potatoes floors, and then developed as an office space element for the Haworth New Office Furniture System, with ornamental qualities.
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Haworth New Office Furniture System: Ceiling pattenrs / Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Ceiling pattenrs
1985
Work of Art for Project, Office Space Element, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary BlackFlat ceiling with geometric patterns and hand-painted flower ornament. Initially applied in the ceilings of the Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops, and then developed as an office space element for the Haworth New Office Furniture System, with ornamental qualities.
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Haworth New Office Furniture System: Wall frieze / Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Wall frieze
1985
Work of Art for Project, Office Space Element, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary BlackInterior wall frieze, a zone which goes around the wall below the ceiling, with ornaments in cut-plank wood or painted decorations in it. Initially built in the upper part of entrance room wall of the Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops, ...
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Hot spa with marble terrazzo pools
1985
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni CoromvliHand worked marble terrazzo pools, in yellow, green and white.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Sliding screen
1985
Work of Art for Project, Office Space Element, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary BlackSliding screens made of red watered silk over a wood frame. Initially installed in the upper part of a wall between two private offices of the Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops, and then developed as an office space element for ...
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Multi-colored Hand-tiled Bench: Glazed tiles
1986
Work of Art for Project, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher AlexanderExperimenting with the fabrication of multi-colored glazed tiles with hand-drawn flowers and wave designs.
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Eishin Campus - High School: College Buildings black shikkui wall ornaments
1986
Work of Art for Project, PlasterworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Artemis Anninou, Ingrid Fiksdahl-KingAn ornamental band in black shikkui just below the second floor windows runs around the all white second floor exterior wall of the building.
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Martinez Heavy Timber Carpentry Workshop: Giant white star
1986
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher AlexanderGiant white star on the exterior wall of the carpentry workshop made of enamel painted wood.
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Potash-McCabe House: Red, yellow and green polished terrazzo floor with squares and stars
1986
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Steven Duff, Kleoniki TsotropoulouRed, Yellow and Green Polished Terrazzo Floor with Squares and Stars; with styrofoam lost form technique.
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Pasadena Waldorf School: Plastered concrete on column for the application of ornament
1986
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Kleoniki Tsotropoulou, Randall Schmidt, Seth WachtelSketch model for the Waldorf Kindergarten Project, with "ropy" spiral columns to be made in plastered concrete .
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Pasadena Waldorf School: Blue archaic bird
1986
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher AlexanderShaped tile fragments hand-molded out of clay and glazed, set into red plaster, for insert into wall panel.
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Eishin Campus - High School: College Buildings terrazzo floors
1987
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Ingrid Fiksdahl-KingCollege Building Floor with terrazzo tiles.
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Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Column capitals with ornamental details
1987
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher AlexanderHand-made cast-concrete column capitals with ornamental details, his mouth being the water flow hole.
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Second Sala House: Concrete floor with leopard inserts
1987
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Steven DuffRed concrete floor with yellow ceramic leopard inserts for the interior of second Sala House.
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Second Sala House: Leopard molds
1987
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher AlexanderYellow painted wooden molds for the manufacturing of the clay leopards to be used as inserts in the colored concrete floor.
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Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Courtyard fountain with lion's head
1988
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Robert M. WalshCast-concrete lion's head on the back wall of the tiled fountain located in the courtyard of the Julian Street Inn.
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Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework
1988
Work of Art for Project, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Kleoniki Tsotropoulou4.500 hand-glazed grey tiles with hand-drawn geometric pattern, on reddish Mexican body tiles, for cladding the second floor exterior walls of the Julian Street Inn.
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Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Courtyard fountain with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework
1988
Work of Art for Project, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Kleoniki Tsotropoulou, Robert M. WalshTilework with diagonal squared pattern with four-petal flower in interchanging green and salmon, cladding the base wall of the fountain.
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Second Sala House: Marble terrazzo tub
1988
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Steven DuffHand worked marble terrazzo bath tub interior, in green with yellow stars.
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Upham House: Interior plasterwork early experiments
1990
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall SchmidtEarly experiments for exploring possibilities of making flowers and other simple reliefs in plaster and trying casting techniques. Refiefs were made by gluing cardboard and balsa wood surfaces. These early experiments were the basis for the development of the plaster ...
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Upham House: Hand-made, painted and glazed lily tiles
1991
Work of Art for Project, Hand-made TileworkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall Schmidt, Lizabeth ChesterLow relief clay tiles produced from the plaster mold of the first successful original tile; four different variations of color combinations were tested on the site. The ones embedded in the stem wall of the foundation were the yellow lily ...
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Upham House: Concrete frieze
1992
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall SchmidtConcrete wall frieze with star octagon repetitive design; chosen after testing it against the alternative lily frieze design and finalized after mockups of different size octagons.
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Upham House: Interior plasterwork for the living room
1992
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall SchmidtPlaster patterned strips with geometric miniature basketweave design in low relief, cast from a mold made in balsa wood, installed in the living room in two locations: Vertical patterned strips on the walls, above waist height, about 4 or 5 ...
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Upham House: Colored terrazzo poured floor
1992
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall Schmidt, Shawn BradburyTerrazzo floor for the house kitchen, in red, yellow and green triangles; full size painted mockups were made to check the colors in position.
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Upham House: The living room fireplace cladded with hand-glazed tiles
1992
Work of Art for Project, Hand-glazed TileworkCreated by:Christopher AlexanderHand-painted and hand-glazed green tiles with red asterisks used for cladding the fireplace front.
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Upham House: Window openings and windows details
1992
Building Detail, Window ShapingCreated by:Christopher AlexanderThe detailed design of the windows, namely the arrangement of lights, mullions and glazing bars for each window and door, was concluded after it was made clear that the big living room windows formed a kind of anchor point. The ...
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones
1994
Building Detail, Wall TreatmentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, John HewittThe exposed surface of the perimeter thick wall is made of a combination of red bricks, exposed concrete and flint stones. there are several patterns of alternating repetition, the predominant one being the alteration between concrete bands and the herringbone ...
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Coffered ceiling in the Goddu and Heisey houses
1994
Work of Art for Project, Coffered CeilingCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall SchmidtExposed wooden beam coffered ceiling in the living rooms, with a cross shaped wooden ornament at the intersection of the beams.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Coffered ceiling
1995
Work of Art for Project, Coffered CeilingCreated by:Christopher Alexander, John HewittDining room coffered ceiling with ornamentral features.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Door and window shaping
1995
Building Detail, Window ShapingCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Derek BonnerThe window shapes in relation to the treatment of surrounding wall formed strong centers. The window itself, beautifully shaped and specially made with curved sash. The window surround, cast concrete; beyond the cast concrete herringbone brickwork. Below the window, emphasizing ...
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Copper medallions on the exterior walls of the Heisey House
1995
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall SchmidtThe medallions, about 12" in diameter, are running at the height of the perimeter beam of the first floor; wooden mold has been used for the shaping of the copper.
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Copper medallions on the exterior walls of the Gioja House
1995
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall SchmidtThe medallions, about 12" in diameter, are running at the height of the perimeter beam of the first floor; wooden mold has been used for the shaping of the copper.
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Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor
1995
Work of Art for Project, Terrazzo WorkCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randy Schmidt, Katalin Bende850 hand-made tiles with flower, cast in blue and white terrazzo, ground and polished for the terrace floor; mockups and experimentation for developing the flower mold and the way of making them were developed in a construction course, and the ...
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Hand-made tilework
1996
Work of Art for Project, Hand-made TileworkCreated by:Christopher AlexanderHand-made, painted and glazed tile of white porcelain with a flower design in green and yellow on reddish background, embedded in the entrance wall to the dining hall, over the archway.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Hand-made tilework
1996
Work of Art for Project, Hand-made TileworkCreated by:Christopher AlexanderHand-made, painted and glazed array of tiles of white porcelain with a repeated flower design in green, red and brown colors in white background, embedded in the walls of the dining hall, at eye level height.
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George House: Exterior staircase ballustrade with ornament
1998
Work of Art for Project, OrnamentCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall SchmidtExterior staircase solid wall made out of concrete blocks with precat concrete ballustrade with ornamental cut-outs.
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The Role and Use of Color in Ornamentation and Building Systems for Creating Wholeness in Structures
1976
AcademicUniversity Program:Master of ArchitectureCourse type:Graduate SeminarCourse number:Arch. 207Instructors:Christopher AlexanderEnrolled students:Stanley Saitowitz, David Week
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Design studio on "The Nature of Order"
1983
AcademicUniversity Program:Master of ArchitectureCourse type:Graduate Design StudioCourse number:Arch. 201/203Instructors:Christopher AlexanderEnrolled students:Gregory C. Tung, Wei-jen Yang, Michael Robinette, Stuart MacDonald, Carl Sanders, Gunnar Johann Brinck, Tom Carnegie, Jerri HolanThe focus of the studio was on the book “The Nature of Order”, at that time being a draft in one volume. Christopher Alexander distributed a xerox copy of his book manuscript to the students, for sharing with them his ...
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses; paper mock-up #1
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:52"x58 1/4"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up with gouache paint, depicting the first alternative for the terrazzo floor of the main room — a geometric pattern composed by squares, diamonds and crosses, in green, red and white.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses; paper mock-up #2
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:51 5/8"x58"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up with gouache paint, depicting the second alternative for the terrazzo floor of the main room — a geometric pattern composed by grey stripes with blue crosses and white squares with a blue central detail.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses; paper mock-up #3
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:29 3/4"x59 1/2"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up with gouache paint, depicting the third alternative for the terrazzo floor of the main room — a geometric pattern composed by interlaced red and yellow crosses with a small blue square detail inside the red crosses.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses; paper mock-up #4
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:46 5/8"x93 3/8"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up with gouache paint, depicting the fourth alternative for the terrazzo floor of the main room — a geometric pattern composed by interlaced red and yellow crosses with a small blue square detail inside the red crosses. Same ...
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses; paper mock-up #5
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:29 3/4"x58 1/2"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up with gouache paint, depicting the fifth alternative for the terrazzo floor of the main room — a geometric pattern composed by yellow squares diagonally placed on a red background, connected by small blue squares.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses; paper mock-up #6
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Eleni Coromvli, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:52 1/2"x82 3/4"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up with gouache paint, depicting the alternative finally used for the terrazzo floor of the main room — a geometric pattern composed by large red squares diagonally placed, surrounded by yellow stripes with blue crosses.
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Pasadena Waldorf School: Blue Archaic Bird
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:18"x18"Scale:1'=1'Shaped tile fragments hand-molded out of clay and glazed, set into red plaster, for insert into wall panel.
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Second Sala House: Leopard Molds
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Construction MoldCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:11 3/4"x11 3/4"Scale:1'=1'Wooden mold, which was used for casting the leopard-shaped tiles in clay.
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Second Sala House: Leopard Molds
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:11 3/4"x11 3/4"Scale:1'=1'Two full-scale paper mock-ups of a leopard figure, one mounted on a square piece of Plexiglas and the second on plywood.
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Second Sala House: Leopard Molds
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:3 1/4"x8 1/4"Scale:1'=1'One full-scale, leopard-shaped, clay tile sample. The clay leopard-shaped tiles, after being painted were inserted in the concrete floor.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Courtyard fountain with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework; mock-ups for the tiles
01/04/1989
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Kleoniki Tsotropoulou, Robert Walsh, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:29"x17"Scale:1'=1'DigitizedFull-scale paper mock-up of the final tile pattern used for cladding the base of the courtyard fountain, painted with gouache.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Courtyard fountain with lion's head; model for the lion
01/01/1989
Construction Innovation, ModelCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Robert Walsh, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArrayScale:1'=1'A full scale gypsum-cast model of a lion’s head for the courtyard fountain.
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The Upham House: Hand-made, painted and glazed lily tiles; plaster mold
01/01/1991
Construction Innovation, Construction MoldCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall Schmidt, Lizabeth Chester, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:8 5/8x11 1/4"Scale:1'=1'A plaster mold of a lily flower pattern, made for casting low relief ceramic tiles to be embedded in the stem wall of the house foundation.
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The Upham House: Concrete Frieze; wooden stamp
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Construction MoldCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Randall Schmidt, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:5"x5"Scale:1'=1'Wooden stamp, with a low-relief star octagon pattern, used on the concrete wall frieze.
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Goddu House and Heisey House; wooden mockup in the shape of a cross
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall Schmidt, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:18 1/2"x23 7/8"Scale:1'=1'A full scale mockup of the living room ceiling ornaments.
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Gioja House and Heisey House; copper medallions mockups
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Construction MoldCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Saul Pichardo, Randall Schmidt, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:d=12"Scale:1'=1'Two copper sample mockups of medallions, about 12″ in diameter. The medallions were used at the height of the perimeter beam of the first floor of the houses; also one wooden mold which was used for the shaping of the ...
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The Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor; wooden and rubber molds
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Construction MoldCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Katalin Bende, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:12"x12"Scale:1'=1'Two wooden tile molds, one with a low relief pattern, another with a carved pattern, and a third silicon mold. All three were used for casting the 800 blue and white terrazzo tiles used for the terrace floor.
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The Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor; paper mockup
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Katalin Bende, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:9 3/4"x9 3/4"Scale:1'=1'A full-sale paper mockup of the terrazzo pattern, drawn free-hand in black-ink, on tracing paper .
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The Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor; tile mockup
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Katalin Bende, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:10"x10"Scale:1'=1'A final-stage test of one terrazzo tile, used as a sample for the final reproduction of 800 more tiles, which composed the terrace terrazzo floor.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Hand-made, painted and glazed tile
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Mock-upCreated by:Christopher Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CAMedium:ArraySize:11"x14", 11 3/4"x11 3/4", 9"x12"Three handmade tile mockups of different materials and proportions, all testing the flower design of a single tile to be embedded in the entrance to the dining hall wall. The first mockup is made of a thick plastiline paste with ...
SEE ALL Models & Mock-ups
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Sala House: Sketches
01/01/1982
Architectural Design, Project, SketchesDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"DigitizedFour free-hand pencil sketches of elevation studies for two sides of the house volume, with details and ornamentation.
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Sala House: Kitchen terrazzo floor - Presentation Drawings
01/01/1982
Construction Innovation, Presentation Drawing, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on VellumDigitizedDrawing showing the final pattern of interlocked dark grey stars and light green crosses, used for the construction of the floor.
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Sala House: Kitchen terrazzo floor - Sketches of floor patterns
01/01/1982
Construction Innovation, SketchesDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"DigitizedTwo pages of initial pencil sketches for the kitchen terrazzo floor patterns.
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Eishin Campus - High School: Gymnasium window shaping and details - Design Development Drawings
01/04/1984
Construction Innovation, Design Development, Elevation, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Artemis Anninou, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:BlueprintSize:Extract from 24"x42" drawingScale:1:50, 1:10DigitizedDetails of the Gymnasium side wall depicting the unusual shape of the large windows in such spacing that there is an alternating repetition of coherent centers and good shapes of walls and openings, enhanced by the window panes and the ...
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Eishin Campus - High School: College Buildings black shikkui wall ornaments - Design Development Drawings
27/04/1984
Construction Innovation, Design Development, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Hansjoachim Neis, Artemis Anninou, Ingrid Fiksdahl-King, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:BlueprintSize:Extract from 24"x42" drawingScale:1:10DigitizedDetailed drawing of a section of the ornamental band, built in black shikkui plaster all around the exterior walls of the building, just below the second floor windows.
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Fort Mason Bench: Ornamental terrazzo panels - Sketches
24/03/1984
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Perspective, Elevation, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Rodney Moore, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"7 pages with ornament sketches, proposals for the terrazzo panels to be placed on the vertical surfaces of the bench as indicated on elevation and perspective sketches. Individual patterns include animal, plant and geometric figures. .
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Haworth New Office Furniture System: Floor Patterns - Design Development Drawings
01/12/1985
Construction Innovation, Design Development, Axonometric, Floor PlanDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary Black, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on VellumSize:8 1/2"x11"Scale:1 1/2"=1'Seven sheets of ink hardline drawings of floor patters with dimensions; the floor patterns depicted in the two axonometries and the respective plans were used in the project.
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Haworth New Office Furniture System: Wall Frieze - Design Development Drawings
01/12/1985
Construction Innovation, Design Development, Axonometric, Section, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary Black, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on VellumSize:8 1/2"x11"Scale:1 1/2"=1'Two sheets of ink hardline drawings of the ornamental interior wall frieze; includes axonometric, elevation and sections with basic dimensions.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Wall Frieze - Preliminary Design Drawings
01/03/1985
Construction Innovation, Preliminary Design, Perspective, Elevation, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary Black, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"Six pages with pen and pencil dimensioned sketches of different versions of wall frieze, including construction details and cost information for the one finally used .
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Haworth New Office Furniture System: Ceiling Patterns - Design Development Drawings
01/12/1985
Construction Innovation, Design Development, Axonometric, Floor Plan, SectionDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou, Gary Black, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on VellumSize:8 1/2"x11"Scale:1 1/2"=1'Two sheets of ink hardline drawings of the flat ceiling; one perspective and one plan.
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Civic Center & Town Hall for Mountain View: View of Mountain View Civic Center - Final gouache painting
01/01/1986
Work of Art, Gouache Painting, PerspectiveDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Watercolor PaperSize:30"x40"Gouache final painting for the main interior courtyard of the Mountain View Civic Center, prepared for the invited design competition. The dominant feature of the painting is the frieze of the blue ceramic bas-relief horses around the main courtyard.
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Civic Center & Town Hall for Mountain View: Main Courtyard - Watercolor collage painting
01/01/1986
Work of Art, Watercolor Collage, PerspectiveDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:30"x40"A large collage painting prepared as a study for the final presentation-board to be exposed at the competition exhibit; used for illustrating the special character of the main courtyard .
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Civic Center & Town Hall for Mountain View: Studies of the main courtyard color scheme
01/01/1986
Work of Art, Colored Pen Painting, Gouache Painting, PerspectiveDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:30"x40", 12 1/2"x10 1/4DigitizedTwo early perspective of the main plaza area for studying its color scheme, using color markers and gouache paint.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Precast columns and capitals with ornamental details - Permit Drawings
10/08/1987
Construction Innovation, Permit Drawing, Axonometric, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Gary Black, James Maguire, Eleni Coromvli, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:BlueprintDigitizedTwo drawings of the precast columns.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Tile pattern studies
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Sketches, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"Sequence of four sketches titled “Simplicity and Nothing”, developed as studies of tile patterns, applying the property of simplicity in the formation of a tile design.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Tile pattern studies
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Sketches, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"Sequence of three sketches titled “Process of Creating Centers”, depicting the centering process for developing a tile design to be used in the San Jose Shelter for the Homeless.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Original tile painting and sketch
01/01/1988
Construction Innovation, Sketches, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"Two original tile-paintings; the first depicts the actual tile size with the final pattern and colors painted on it, and the second an earlier study of a different tile pattern in which blue is also used. .
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Courtyard fountain with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Sketches
01/01/1988
Construction Innovation, Sketches, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:4"x8 1/2"DigitizedSketch of the tile pattern used for cladding the base wall of the fountain. Diagonally arranged square tiles include four-petal flowers placed on two alternating color backgrounds .
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Courtyard fountain with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework and Courtyard Fountain with Lion's Head - Sketches
01/01/1988
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Perspective, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Robert Walsh, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:PhotocopySize:8 1/2"x11"DigitizedTwo sketches on the same page, one being a schematic perspective view of the courtyard fountain with a lion’s head depicting the water spouting element and a grid of diagonally placed pattern suggesting the tile layout. The second sketch depicts ...
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Sketches of material combinations
25/04/1995
Construction Innovation, Sketches, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on Tracing PaperSize:8 1/2"x11"DigitizedTwo sketches depicting two alternative design ideas for the entrance facade using different material combinations regarding the positioning of bricks and flint stones.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Sketches of material combinations
02/05/1995
Construction Innovation, Sketches, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:PhotocopySize:8 1/2"x11"Two sketches depicting two design ideas for material combinations of the entrance facade: The first sketch shows the combination of concrete with flint stone infills; the second sketch shows the combination of concrete with brick and flint stone above the ...
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Sketches of the north wall
02/05/1995
Construction Innovation, Sketches, ElevationDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on Tracing PaperSize:12"x13", 10"x13", 10"x16 1/2"DigitizedThree partial elevations of the northern facade focused on material proportions and layouts around the small windows.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Sketch studies of the south wall windows
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Sketches, DetailsDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on Tracing PaperSize:8 3/8"x11 3/8"DigitizedSeries of eight rough sketch versions of the wall material around and between windows. The first sketches show only the outline and thickness of concrete members around the windows, while the others depict the treatment of the wall segments surrounding ...
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Tile pattern and color studies
27/06/1996
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Gouache PaintingDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11", 11"x17"DigitizedEleven sketches studying the flower shapes and color distribution for the tile pattern.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Tile pattern and color studies
27/06/1996
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Gouache PaintingDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11", 11"x17"DigitizedEight sketches studying an alternative flower shape and its color distribution. .
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Ceiling Plasterwork: Sketches
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Plan, AxonometricDesigners:Christopher Alexander, Derek Boner, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Medium:Original on PaperSize:8 1/2"x11", 23 3/8"x30"DigitizedTwo pages depicting initial sketches of the dining room ceiling.
SEE ALL Drawings
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Sketches & notes on tile glazes
05/07/1996
Construction Innovation, Design Matters, Notes & SketchesAuthors:Christopher Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Four sketches with notes of the two tile patterns for which four versions of color combinations and distribution are proposed by the specified glaze codes.
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Lecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design: Transcript of lecture
17/11/1982
Public Event, Event Document, Speech ManuscriptDigitized19-page transcript of the Christopher Alexander lecture on “Architecture’s New Scientific Foundations”, a kind of progress report on the development of his ideas on the order of space as a deep phenomenon, on the importance of recognizing the deep structure ...
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The Linz Café: Photographs of building interior
01/01/1980
Project, Interior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Linz, AustriaSource:DigitalCharacteristics:Color, B&WDigitizedThree photographs of the café interior, focusing on the café alcoves and the hand painted walls with its ornaments.
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The Linz Café: Photographs of building interior
01/01/1980
Project, Interior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Linz, AustriaSource:PrintCharacteristics:19 3/4"x23 3/4", ColorDigitizedView of the first floor sitting alcoves of the Linz Café. The photo was exhibited during the 10th Annual Louis Kahn Memorial Lecture in 1992, where Christopher Alexander was invited to give a lecture.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Photographs of the building
01/01/1984
Project, Exterior ViewPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:NegativeCharacteristics:4"X5", B&WDigitizedBlack and white photograph of the building exterior, from its back side.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Photographs of building interior
01/01/1985
Project, Interior ViewPhotographer:Kevin Gilson, Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree views of the main room of the house.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Photographs of the building
01/01/1996
Project, Exterior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree views of the north wall. It is worth observing the differentiation of the brickwork at the corner on the right because of the window being so close to the corner.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Photographs of building details
01/01/1996
Project, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree views of the north wall with focus on the brickwork and its detailing.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Photographs of building interior
01/01/1996
Project, Interior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFour images of the main dining room with its big windows facing south, into the garden.
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The Linz Café: Wall interior painting details - Photographs
01/01/1980
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Linz, AustriaSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree photographs of the wall ornament and decorative frieze.
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Black and White Terrazzo Floor: Photographs
01/01/1981
Work of Art, Construction Experiment & Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree views of the terrazzo floor experiment, one of the first terrazzo floors made at the entrance door of the C.E.S. office on Shasta Road.
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Black and White Terrazzo Floor: Photographs of mold
01/01/1981
Work of Art, Construction Experiment & Mock-upPhotographer:Gernot Mittersteiner/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree photographs depicting the making of the metal mold used for the construction of the black and white terrazzo floor and the first sample produced.
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Berryessa House: Multicolored blue diamond shaped tiles to be embedded into the foundation concrete perimeter wall - Photographs
01/06/1981
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Napa County, CA, U.S.A.Source:Print, Negative, SlideCharacteristics:8 1/2"x11", 4"x6", 4"x5", Color, B&WDigitizedThree images of thirty two-tiles glazed and fired in the C.E.S. tile workshop, shown in different combinations, before they were attached to the formwork of the foundation perimeter wall, to be embedded on the face of the concrete.
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Berryessa House: Multicolored blue diamond shaped tiles embedded into the foundation concrete perimeter wall - Photographs
10/02/1982
Construction Innovation, Work in Progress, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Napa County, CA, U.S.A.Source:Print, Negative, SlideCharacteristics:8 1/2"x11", 4"x5", Color, B&WDigitizedTwo photographs depicting sections of the foundation perimeter walls with the tiles embedded in the concrete.
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Sala House: Terrazzo floor detail - Photographs of mock-up
01/08/1982
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of a mock-up for the terrazzo floor, painted on wood.
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Sala House: Terrazzo floor pattern details - Photographs of drawings
01/01/1982
Construction Innovation, SketchesPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:Print, NegativeCharacteristics:8 1/2"x11", 4"x5", B&WDigitizedPhotographs of two pencil early sketches by Christopher Alexander for pattern studies of the terrazzo floor.
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Sala House: Terrazzo floor detail - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1983
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:PrintCharacteristics:8"x10", ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the colored terrazzo floor mock-up using terrazzo material.
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Sala House: Terrazzo floor detail - Photographs
01/07/1983
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo professional photographs of the finished farmhouse kitchen terrazzo floor.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses - Photographs
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the finished terrazzo floor in the main room.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses - Photographs
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedClose-up photo of the floor pattern in main room floor.
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C.E.S. Office - Martinez House: Terrazzo floor with squares, diamonds and crosses - Photographs of mock-ups
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFive photographs of the watercolor mock-ups by Christopher Alexander, illustrating the four alternative designs for the terrazzo floor of the main room.
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Fort Mason Bench: Ornamental Terrazzo Panels - Photographs
01/05/1984
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotographs of three terrazzo panels with animals, at the resting back of the bench.
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Fort Mason Bench: Ornamental Terrazzo Panels - Photographs
01/05/1984
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs of the six terrazzo panels with animals, flowers and geometric patterns at the resting back of the bench.
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Fort Mason Bench: Ornamental Terrazzo Panels - Photographs
14/04/1984
Construction Innovation, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedSix photographs illustrating some steps of the process of making the terrazzo ornaments at the side and back walls of the bench.
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Fresno Farmers' Market: Ornamental Concrete Tiles - Photographs
01/08/1984
Construction Innovation, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Fresno, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedWorking on the concrete floor; the blue tiles were prefabricated and were dropped into the slab, the same afternoon the slab was cast.
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Fresno Farmers' Market: Ornamental Concrete Tiles - Photographs
01/09/1984
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Fresno, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the special hand made fish-tail tiles on the floor of the market.
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The Campus of Eishin - High School: College Buildings - Black shikkui wall ornaments & the shaping of the classroom windows - Photographs of model
01/03/1984
Construction Innovation, ModelPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree views of a large scale model of a wall segment of the college buildings, for studying proportions, shapes and relations of the façade elements, namely its windows, the ornamental frieze and columns, and the sought after balance and harmony ...
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Fresno Farmers' Market: Ornamental Concrete Tiles - Photographs
01/08/1984
Construction Innovation, Work in ProgressPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Fresno, CA, U.S.A.Source:PrintCharacteristics:3 1/2"x5", ColorScreeding the concrete after the blue tiles were dropped into the slab.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Administration building exterior wall with οrnament - Photographs
01/01/1984
Construction Innovation, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Hansjoachim Neis/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFour images showing the construction process of the concrete diagonal lattice on the second storey wall, using styrofoam formwork.
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Horse Wooden Carving: Photographs
01/01/1985
Work of Art, Wood CarvingPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the painted carving.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Floor Pattenrs _Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1985
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotographs of the two floor patterns as installed, and two more with mock-ups of floor patterns not chosen for installation.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Wall Frieze - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1985
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs of a cardboard full scale mock-up, built in situ for checking shape, proportions and dimensions of the wall frieze to be constructed in the Sweet Potatoes offices and workshops.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Administration building exterior wall with οrnament - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Exterior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo images of the second storey wall viewing the trellis of fine concrete splines, with the spaces between the splines plastered in white.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Main Gate terrazzo wall surface - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Exterior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the main gate wall with checkered diagonal terrazzo surface made of cement and marble dust, ground to a polish. One of them was exhibited at the 14th International Architecture Biennale Exhibition: “Office US” in 2014.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Ornamental wall frieze for the Homeroom Buildings & roof eave detail - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Hiroshi Nakano/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFour images of the handmade band of ornaments, made of cast concrete and hand-filled with white plaster, with high contrast.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Ornaments on the walls of Homeroom Building and the Dining Hall - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedClose up view of the Homeroom building wall with cross shaped floral ornaments cast in the concrete, in contrast with the brown and white frieze of curved diamonds on the wall of the Dining Hall in the background.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Ornaments on the Dining Hall - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree images of the row of curved diamonds on the front wall, alternating brown diamonds made of wood with white plastered surfaces. Brown and white create a balanced feeling of positive space and negative space.
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The Campus of Eishin - High School: Gymnasium - Window shaping and details - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedInterior of the Gymnasium, building empty, ligths off, windows reflecting in the floor.
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The Campus of Eishin - High School: Gymnasium - Window shaping and details - Photographs
01/05/1985
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Hiroshi Nakano/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs of the windows and the pillars formed by them.
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Martinez Heavy Timber Carpentry Workshop: Giant white star - Photographs
01/07/1986
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:Color, B&WDigitizedThree views of the giant star positioned on the exterior long wall of the workshop.
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Martinez Heavy Timber Carpentry Workshop: Giant white star - Photographs of drawings
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, DrawingPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:PMTCharacteristics:8 1/2"x11", B&WDigitizedPhotograph of the carpentry workshop main elevation, with the giant white star placed on its front wall .
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Ceiling Pattenrs - Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the painted ceiling pattern.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Sliding Screen - Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the installed sliding silk screen.
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Potash-McCabe House: Red, Yellow and Green Polished Terrazzo Floor with Squares and Stars - Photographs
01/06/1986
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., San Anselmo, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the finished terrazzo floor in the kitchen.
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Pasadena Waldorf School: Plastered concrete on column for the application of ornament - Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedView of an early sketch model for the kindergarten, tiny in scale, joyful and playful, with “ropy” spiral columns to be made in plastered concrete, and a frieze with schematic elephants.
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Potash-McCabe House: Red, Yellow and Green Polished Terrazzo Floor with Squares and Stars - Photographs
01/06/1986
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, San Anselmo, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the finished terrazzo floor in the kitchen.
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Pasadena Waldorf School: Blue Archaic Bird - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs of the “Blue Archaic Bird”.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Sliding Screen - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Construction Experiment & Mock-upPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFull scale cardboard mock up of the top part of a wall for defining the solid and lattice-like parts of the screen.
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Sweet Potatoes Offices and Workshops: Wall Frieze - Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo images of the frieze installed on the walls of the Sweet Potatoes offices.
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Green and Red Seljuk Pattern tile panel: Photographs
01/07/1986
Work of Art, Hand-glazed Tile PanelPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree photographs of the tile panel.
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Tile panel with green, red and yellow star pattern: Photographs
01/07/1986
Work of Art, Hand-glazed Tile PanelPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the tile panel.
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Tile panel with green, red, yellow and blue star pattern: Photographs of tile samples
01/07/1986
Work of Art, Mock-upPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo images of tile mock-ups for testing the geometry of the tile pattern and its color combination.
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"View of Mountain View Civic Center" painting: Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Watercolor CollagePhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:NegativeCharacteristics:8"x10", B&WEarly study on a board, a colored collage painting of the main plaza .
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"View of Mountain View Civic Center" painting: Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, Watercolor PaintingPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:PhotocopyCharacteristics:1/8"x9 1/2", ColorThe watercolor painting of the main plaza in a cropped view.
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"View of Mountain View Civic Center" painting: Photographs
01/01/1986
Construction Innovation, SketchesPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:Negative, PMTCharacteristics:8"x10", B&WEarly study, a painted version of the main Plaza, in black and white ink .
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Photographs of mock-ups
01/10/1986
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:PrintCharacteristics:4"x6", ColorPhotograph of an early small panel mock-up composed of plain concrete and terracota tiles to check their level of color contrast.
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Second Sala House: Concrete floor with leopard inserts - Photographs
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedClose-up view of the porcelain leopards embedded in the colored concrete floor.
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Second Sala House: Leopard molds used during the pouring of the concrete floor - Photographs of mold
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Construction Experiment & Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThe wooden leopard mold.
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Second Sala House: Concrete floor with leopard inserts - Photographs
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the colored concrete floor with the porcelain leopards embedded.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Central Hall exterior x-bracing truss - Photographs
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Ruth Landy, Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedCentral Hall longitudinal x-bracing truss, seen on the outside wall, just below the roof of the building.
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The Campus of Eishin - High School: College Buildings - Black shikkui ornaments & The shaping of the classroom windows - Photographs
01/07/1987
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of a wall segment of the college buildings, focusing on the black shikkui ornamental frieze running all around the building and the wooden windows.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: College Buildings terrazzo floors - Photographs
01/07/1987
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree views of the terrazzo floor with a pale grey and pale green alternating pattern design, built at the entrance hall of one of the College Buildings.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: College Buildings terrazzo floors - Photographs
01/07/1987
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the terrazzo floor with a reddish brown and dark green alternating pattern design, built at the entrance hall of one of the College Buildings.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Precast columns and capitals with ornamental details - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Ismet Khambatta/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of two columns with their capitals, built as mock-ups for testing geometry and construction techniques.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Photographs of model
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, ModelPhotographer:Ismet Khambatta/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of an early working model of a section of the building wall for testing the relationhip between the recessed bays on the ground floor with the cladding of the second floor wall with tilework.
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The Campus of Eishin- High School: Central Hall exterior x-bracing truss - Photographs
01/01/1987
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedCentral Hall longitudinal x-bracing truss, seen on the outside wall, just below the roof of the building.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Photographs of sketches depicting design process
01/01/1988
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Design ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, PrintCharacteristics:4"x6", Color, B&WDigitizedEighteen photographs of a sequence of sketches by Christopher Alexander together with colored mock-ups of the design either on tiles or cardboard, depicting the unfolding of the tile pattern from a simple flower design, to a geometric pattern with rhombs, ...
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Photographs of mock-ups
01/01/1988
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:PrintCharacteristics:4"x6", ColorPhotograph of a full-scale mock-up of painted cardboard squares with the final tile pattern and colors, composing an array of nineteen tiles; one of the final tests on site before starting the tile production process.
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Second Sala House: Marble Terrazzo Tub - Photographs
01/11/1988
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Albany, CA, U.S.A.Source:SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPartial view of the bathroom with the marble terrazzo tub.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for the Homeless: Exterior wall cladding with hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework - Photographs
01/11/1989
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., San Jose, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree photographs of the tiles embedded in the 2nd floor wall.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Precast columns and capitals with ornamental details - Photographs
01/01/1989
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., San Jose, CA, U.S.A.Source:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the courtyard arcade column capital.
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The Campus of Eishin - High School: Gymnasium - Window shaping and details - Photographs
01/11/1989
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Artemis Anninou/C.E.S., Iruma-shi, Saitama, JapanSource:Digital, SlideCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThe rhythm and alternating repetition of the windows as seen in the full length of the wall.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Hand-glazed tilework for cladding the courtyard fountain - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1989
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:PhotocopyCharacteristics:8 1/2"x11", ColorImage of test samples of glazed tiles painted and fired for checking on site the color glazes and pattern of the tiles to be used for cladding the fountain curved base in the main courtyard. .
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Precast columns and capitals with ornamental details - Photographs
01/01/1989
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, San Jose, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo images of the details on the capital of the courtyard arcade columns.
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Hand-glazed tilework for cladding the courtyard fountain - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1989
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Kleoniki Tsotropoulou/C.E.S., San Jose, CA, U.S.A.Source:PhotocopyCharacteristics:8 1/2"x11", ColorFour color prints on non-photographic paper, depicting an early full scale paper mock-up of the tiles to be used for cladding the fountain curved base in the main courtyard. .
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The Julian Street Inn - Shelter for Homeless: Lion's Head and hand-painted and hand-glazed tilework for cladding the courtyard fountain - Photographs
01/01/1990
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, San Jose, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of fountain with the hand-glazed tiles cladding the fountain base, and the cast concrete lion’s head.
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The Upham House: Hand-made, painted and glazed lily tiles - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1991
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Design ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotographs of the four differently colored lily tiles for external use, tested on site before final decision was made.
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The Upham House: Hand-made, painted and glazed lily tiles - Photographs
01/01/1991
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of one of the tiles embedded in the stem wall of the foundation.
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The Upham House: Hand-made, painted and glazed lily tiles - Photographs of drawings
01/01/1991
Construction Innovation, SketchesPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotographs of the two watercolor sketches of a lily, made by Christopher Alexander.
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The Upham House: Interior plasterwork early experiments - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1991
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Design ProcessPhotographer:Randall Schmidt/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs of the early experiments for interior plasterwork panels.
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The Upham House: Concrete Frieze - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs showing the testing and comparing of mock-ups for the wall frieze.
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The Upham House: Colored terrazzo kitchen floor - Photographs
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the finished terrazzo floor.
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The Upham House: Colored terrazzo kitchen floor - Photographs of drawings
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, SketchesPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Martinez, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the first watercolor sketch for the floor.
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The Upham House: Colored terrazzo kitchen floor - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Design ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the colored mock-up, tested on the real site.
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The Upham House: Interior plasterwork for the living room ceiling - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the ceiling mock-up in paper, installed in the actual room, for testing the geometric pattern and its dimensions.
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The Upham House: Interior plasterwork for the living room ceiling - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Design ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo photographs of the ceiling panels mock-ups.
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The Upham House: Interior plasterwork for the living room ceiling - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of Randy Schmidt testing the ornament, while holding it diagonally, imagining the intersection of strips.
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The Upham House: Window openings and windows details - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1992
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree photographs related to the window detailed design.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs of mock-up
01/05/1994
Construction Innovation, Construction Experiment & Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:Color. B&WDigitizedThree images of early mock-ups of the exposed face of the wall, built on the project grounds and exploring what balance of the materials would best create the whole.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs of mock-up
01/05/1994
Construction Innovation, Construction Experiment & Mock-upPhotographer:John Hewitt, Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree images of mock-ups for the entrance porch wall, with brick plinth, concrete and stone vertical bands and red brick herringbone inserts.
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The Upham House: Window openings and details - Photographs
01/01/1994
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedImage focusing on the living room windows and its detailing.
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The Upham House: Hand-painted, hand-glazed tiles on the fireplace - Photographs
01/01/1994
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Mark Darley/Esto, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedImage of the living room Rumford type fireplace cladded with hand glazed tiles.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photographs of windows during the process of visualizing them
01/09/1994
Construction Innovation, Work in ProgressPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThe bay window in the foyer of the dining room, while being shaped. Standing on the open slab and looking into the garden, for grasping the character of the bay window.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photographs of windows during the process of visualizing them
01/09/1994
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Work in ProgressPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:B&WDigitizedBy placing chairs and sitting down it was possible to get a first fix on the position, size, width and splay of the dining room large window openings.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on Detail, Work in ProgressPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo images of the north wall under construction.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on Detail, Work in ProgressPhotographer:John Hewitt, Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree images of the south entrance under construction. It is worth comparing it with the treatment of the north entrance.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photographs
01/08/1995
Construction Innovation, Interior View, Work in ProgressPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThe bay window in the foyer of the dining room, looking into the gardens, during the last phase of its construction.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Focus on Detail, Work in ProgressPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedDetailed view of the north entrance porch under construction, showing the process of handling the materials and testing them during construction, before embedding them in the building. .
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The Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor for the house terrace - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Katalin Bende/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFour photographs of the floor tiles mock-ups and experiments.
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The Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor for the house terrace - Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1995
Construction Innovation, Mock-up, Construction ProcessPhotographer:Katalin Bende/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedNine photographs giving a general overview of the floor tiles making sequence. This was the process followed for the production of the tiles by a group of students, under the tutelage of a project supervisor.
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The Sullivan House: Blue and white terrazzo floor for the house terrace - Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Interior ViewPhotographer:Katalin Bende/C.E.S., Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the finished terrace floor with terrazzo tilework.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedFour images of the finished north wall with details of brick pattern, arch, thistle ornament and window mullions.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree images of the entrance porch, the first an overview and the other two with focus on the brickwork pattern on the pillars.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Exterior wall with exposed herringbone brick pattern, alternating with exposed concrete bands and grey flint stones: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Nicolas Kane, Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo images showing how the window, being so close to the corner, makes the brickwork corner to be differentiated.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Photographs of mock-up
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:PrintCharacteristics:4"x6", ColorTwo images of a mock-up tile without color glazing, placed against the wall for reviewing .
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree images of the two main doors of the building.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedSix images exhibiting the variety of windows in the building; arches and curved mullions shape the glass panes.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Coffered Ceiling: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Interior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo close-up views of the dining room coffered ceiling, in square panels with a rosette at the center of each panel.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Photographs
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Interior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwo views of the tilework bands embedded on the walls of the entrance foyer and the dining room area.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photograph of sketches with the window as a center
01/01/1996
Construction Innovation, Sketches, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedSeveral geomeric properties –alternating repetition, good shape, strong centers, positive space– are present through the articulation of the brick pattern, arch, thistle ornament, muntins. There is an inherent harmonious structure bringing forward the window as a center. A sketch by ...
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George House - Exterior staircase ballustrade with ornament: Photographs
01/01/1998
Construction Innovation, Exterior ViewPhotographer:Randall Schmidt, Pleasant Hill, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedView of the exterior staircase and its ballustrade.
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George House - Exterior staircase ballustrade with ornament: Photograph of ornament mock-up
01/01/1998
Construction Innovation, Mock-upPhotographer:Randall Schmidt, Pleasant Hill, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of a mock-up of the prefabricated concrete segment for the ballustrade of the staircase, testing concrete segments with cut-outs, forming a simple sequence of ornamental voids. .
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Photographs
17/02/2016
Construction Innovation, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Dan Klynn, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPhotograph of the tile embedded in the wall above the dining room arched entry leading into the dining room.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Hand-made Tilework: Photographs
17/02/2016
Construction Innovation, Interior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Dan Klynn, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedThree photographs of the tilework bands embedded on the walls of the dining room.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Ceiling Plasterwork: Photographs
17/02/2016
Construction Innovation, Interior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Dan Klynn, Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedImage of the cornice on the ceiling of the dining room foyer and its bay window.
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West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center - Door and window shaping: Photographs
01/01/2016
Construction Innovation, Interior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Dan Klynn, Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedDetail of the main entrance door and its detailing.
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Copper medallions on the exterior walls of the Heisey House - Photographs
18/03/2018
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Dan Klynn, Lake Travis, Austin, TX, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedImage of the medallions, about 12″ in diameter, running at the height of the perimeter beam of the first floor.
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Back-of-the-Moon Community: Gioja House copper medallions on the exterior walls - Photographs
18/03/2018
Construction Innovation, Exterior View, Focus on DetailsPhotographer:Dan Klynn, Lake Travis, Austin, TX, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedImage of the medallions, about 12″ in diameter, running at the height of the perimeter beam of the first floor.
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Lecture by Christopher Alexander at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University: Visual material used in the lecture for illustrating his points
17/11/1982
Public Event, Presentation MaterialPhotographer:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedTwelve photographs used by Christopher Alexander in the lecture to illustrate examples of physical things which have deep structure, which he called ‘wholeness’. The examples he chose to show were all from traditional or historical societies, and were the following: ...
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Lecture by Christopher Alexander at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University: Visual material used in the lecture for illustrating his points
17/11/1982
Public Event, Presentation MaterialPhotographer:Christopher Alexander, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.Source:DigitalCharacteristics:ColorDigitizedPairs of photographs mostly of buildings, used by Christopher Alexander in the lecture, each one comparing side-by-side one contemporary building with a building from the past, in order to argue the point that the “works of our time simply do ...
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Towards a Theory of Units
01/01/1975
Academic, Student Work, M.Arch ThesisAuthors:Walter V. Wendler, University of California Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.267-page thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture. The subject of this study deals with the concept of organicness in relation to architecture, and with, which would be the acts that could ...
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Concrete Casting - Construction of Capital and Column
12/12/1986
Academic, Student Work, PaperAuthors:Masanori Tada, University of California Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.15-page paper describing the steps taken towards the making of a precast column and ornamental capital, for the first floor arcade of the residence building, in the San Jose Shelter for the Homeless project. Included are numerous photographs illustrating the ...