Go BackThe Nature of Order – An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe.
Book One – The Phenomenon of Life
“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 a new architecture. With this view as a foundation, we can ask precise questions about what must be done to create more life in our world. He introduces the concept of living structure, basing it upon his theories of centers and of wholeness, and defines the fifteen properties from which all wholeness is built.
The book was exhibited at Locus Manifesto-exposition “Re-enchant the World: Architecture and the City facing society´s transitions”, together with others in Science Cabinet #1.
Contents
-
The Nature of Order: Response to request for bidding on the book printing and binding, quoting specifications and price for 5,000 and 7,500 copies of the book; handwritten notes by Christopher Alexander
27/10/1988
-
The Nature of Order: Upon request, provision of breakdown of costs for 5,000 and 7,500 copies of the book
04/11/1988
-
Re: Christopher Alexander - The Nature of Order: Response letter providing specifications and price quotations to the publishing house for the printing, binding and shipping for 6000, 7000 or 8000 copies of the book; also a duplicate of the letter with handwritten notes is included
07/07/1989
SEE ALL Correspondence
-
The Nature of Order: An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe - Book One: The Phenomenon of Life; three mock-ups of the book
01/04/1996
Three bound copies of the book up to chapter five in different sizes and colors –lavender, pink and salmon, samples for the printed book. ISBN and publisher information taken from “The Mary Rose Museum” as indicative reference.
-
The Nature of Order: An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe - Book One: The Phenomenon of Life; mock-up of the book
01/04/1997
Bound copy, sample for the printed book, with detailed editing on each page; ISBN and publisher information taken from “The Mary Rose Museum” as indicative reference.
-
The Nature of Order: An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe - Book One: The Phenomenon of Life; mock-up of the book
01/01/1999
Mock-up of the book in color, with all book images.
-
The One; an early version of "The Nature of Order"
01/01/1977
-
The Nature of Order: A New View of the Nature of the Universe Inspired by Certain Basic Questions in the Art of Building
01/01/1981
111-page early discussion on the concept of “Order” and what its elements are. Includes: 1. Introduction; 2. Part One: The Nature of Order; 3. Part Two: Deeper Version – The “Being” Nature and 4. Conclusion: Outline of a New Cosmology.
-
Geometry; an early version of "The Nature of Order"
01/01/1981
SEE ALL Manuscripts
-
The Nature of Order: File memo on attempt to locate owner of Gauguin "Parahi Te Marae - the Sacred Mountain"
30/12/1992
Chronological notes attempting to ascertain owner of and gain permission to print Gauguin painting in “The Nature of Order”.
-
The Nature of Order: Thoughts on the design and structure of the book through the course of its lengthy development
01/01/1993
12-page handwritten notes with thoughts regarding the overview of headings, content and organization of the books; connection between chapters and references to project material to be used as examples.
-
The Nature of Order: Six Ideas for Christopher Alexander
30/06/1993
Outlines six ideas to be considered by Alexander for publishing “The Nature of Order”.
SEE ALL Records
-
The Nature of Order, Book One: Proof of Henri Matisse's 1942 painting of "The Black Door", included in the book
01/01/2002
Photograph of the painting, as used in the book, with “3rd Proof 6A” noted on the back of artifact, and handwritten note atop indicating artist and year.
-
The Nature of Order, Book One: Book illustrations
01/01/2002
Six CD discs with the complete image contents of Book One organized by book chapters.
-
The Nature of Order: An Essay on the Art of Building and the Nature of the Universe; book cover photographs
4 4) Book Four
01/04/2021
Photographs of the covers of the four books of “The Nature of Order”.
SEE ALL Photographs
References
-
From 'The Nature of Order'
01/03/1989
-
The Laws of Architecture From a Physicist’s Perspective
17/06/1995
-
Christopher Alexander: Draft of a paper in five parts --Introduction, The Theory, The Practice, The Problem, The Promise-- intended to be published in "Preservation Magazine", accompanied with additional pieces of text for sidebars
25/11/1998
SEE ALL Articles
-
"Ever More Popular, Ever More Dogmatic: The Sad Sequel to Christopher Alexander's Work" Article: Addressed to Literary Lawyer regarding the article in Architectural Record magazine by William Saunders on "The Nature of Order" Book 1, seeking consultation whether the article, as written deserves a response
21/05/2002
-
Letter sent by a student to Christopher Alexander, accompanying a report of his seminar "Arch. 207, Fall 1979 - Introduction to Geometry". The student expressed the seminar's long term, profound impact, and her personal evaluation of a different teaching approach being more effective
01/05/1984
-
Arch 280, Winter 1977 - The Relative "Oneness": Student notes on how to determine and measure "Oneness"
01/03/1977
9-page student essay with the following headings: An Experiment to determine the Relative “Oneness” of a collection of structures; Further objective measure of oneness, possibly; Further Notes for an Experimental Determination of Oneness; Excerpts from “Altered States of Awareness: Reading ...
-
Arch 280, Winter 1977 - The Relative "Oneness": Course work on the formulation of patterns and the relationship between patterns and properties of space
01/03/1977
Two sets of student class notes: a) 19-page copy of a section from “A Pattern Language” which presents the sequence of patterns as a ‘base map’; b) 18-page student notes on the formulation of patterns mostly for public buildings, with ...
-
Arch 280, Winter 1977 - The Relative "Oneness": Centering Process, Second Draft, March 3 1977: Part I - Overview; Part II - The Operation; Part III - The Definition of a Center
03/03/1977
7-page paper by Christopher Alexander, one of his first attempts to define the Centering Process.
SEE ALL Course Material