Early and Unpublished Writings of Christopher Alexander – Thinking, Building, Writing

This book brings together key works of the noted architect and architectural theorist Christopher Alexander, many of which had not been published before. The book contains twenty-five essays and other works, many chosen from the newly organized Christopher Alexander and Center for Environmental Structure Archive, providing a view of the ideas and thought process of the most innovative architectural thinkers of the 20th century. The items span Alexander’s fifty-year carrier, beginning with an early version of his Ph.D. dissertation based on fieldwork in India, continuing to fifteen years in the development of “A Pattern Language”, one of the best-selling books in the history of architecture, and proceeding to the writing of “The Nature of Order”, Alexander’s four volume masterwork, and beyond. The writings combine theory and practice, and together support a blueprint for the development of a new, humane way of building.
Howard Davis is a Professor of Architecture at the University of Oregon. He studied with Christopher Alexander and worked with him at the Center for Environmental Structure for a decade. His experience and continuing association with Christopher Alexander remained important in his subsequent research on the culture of building and on urban vernacular architecture.