Photograph

West Dean College Gardens Visitor’s Center – Door and window shaping: Photograph of sketches with the window as a center

01/01/1996

Drawing, Focus on Details

Several 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 bring forward the window as a center. A sketch by Christopher Alexander puts this idea in a diagramatic form.

Photographer:

Christopher Alexander/C.E.S., Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.

Source:

Digital

Characteristics:

Color

Content of

Construction Innovation

West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center: Door and window shaping 1995

Building Detail, Window Shaping

Created by:

Christopher Alexander, Derek Bonner

The 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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Photographs

References

Scientific Research

Projects

West Dean College Gardens Visitor's Center 1994 to 1996

Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.

Civic, Realized , Construction completed in Nov. 1995

Client:

Edward James Foundation

C.E.S. staff:

Christopher Alexander, John Hewitt, students from "The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture", students from Portsmouth University

Contractor:

Center for Environmetal Structure, as Management Contractor and General Contractor of record, with John Hewitt as Project Manager

Project 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 Innovativ

The 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 ...

Photographs

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 Details

Photographer:

Nicolas Kane, Near Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.

Source:

Digital

Characteristics:

Color

Six images of the finished north wall with details of brick pattern, arch, thistle ornament and window mullions. In the last two images by Nicolas kane, we see how the window, being so close to the corner, makes the brickwork ...