The Quality without a Name

Christopher Alexander's research for a central quality which he named "the quality without a name", was a search for those attributes and circumstances which give life to events, relationships, buildings and spaces. It set the foundation for identifying the patterns which would allow this quality to manifest itself. It set the theoretical background for recognizing and appreciating the qualities and structure of space and what kind of process could produce it. He highlighted the importance of observation and experimentation, the sharing of pattern languages with the people who inhabit and use a space and learning from them. It is important to note that this research was financially supported by the National Institute of Mental Health through the Environmental Pattern Language Research Grant. .
Areas of focus:
Quality and Values
Guiding idea:
The Quality Without a Name
Thoughts and Arguments Explored and Developed

There is a central quality which is the root criterion for life and spirit
This quality is objective and precise
Every place is given its character by certain patterns of events that keep on happening there
These patterns of events are always interlocked with certain geometric patterns of space
Being alive – Patterns which are alive
Feeling as a criterion for recognizing this quality

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