The Sequence of Unfolding – Generative Codes for the Design Process

In architecture, as in other things, the "right" sequence is of vital importance. It is a generative sequence of progressive differentiations, which allow space to unfold in the right order. Each differentiation acts on the product of the previous differentiations, and as it does so, new centers are formed and unfold, and in turn themselves --later-- get differentiated further. The classic example of a generative sequence occurs in biological morphogenesis, where sequence is well known. A generative sequence guarantees the emergence of coherent form, while providing the conditions in which structure preserving transformations can occur successfully. Such a sequence works, or does not work, according to the order of steps. A good sequence --steps in the right order-- can be defined by asking, for each center, which other centers need to be in position before that center can be formed. This unfolding process allows to go one step at a time, because it is based on a sequence which permits this without disturbing the unfolding of the whole. The reason it works is that, like any system in nature, what is actually unfolding is indeed the whole. The crux of every design process lies in finding the generative sequence for that design, and making sure that the sequence is the right one for the job.

Areas of focus:

Design and Building Process

Guiding idea:

Structure Preserving Transformations

Thoughts and Arguments Explored and Developed

Step by step adaptation: Gradual progress towards living structure
Each step is always helping to enhance the whole
Generative sequences are the key to the success of a creative process, whenever a complex structure is being formed
The vital importance of the “right” sequence
The vital interplay of form and sequence
A sequence works, or does not work, according to the order of steps

References

Books

Book Chapters

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Projects

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Works of Art

Series of drinking glasses for Dutch Glassworks 1997

Personal Work of Art, Glasswork

Created by:

Christopher Alexander, Katalin Bende, Henk Werveg

Series of drinking glasses commissioned by Stichting Glasmanifestatie at Leerdam in The Netherlands in 1996, following an international glass event focused on the drinking glass.

Articles

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Academic Courses

Design studio on the Pasadena Multi-family Housing 1987

Academic,

University Program:

Master of Architecture

Course type:

Graduate Design Studio

Course number:

Arch. 201

Instructors:

Christopher Alexander, Artemis Anninou

Enrolled students:

John Raymond Byram, Catherine Drayton, Stephen Duff, You-Tien Hsing, Fanta Lawrence, Shengfong Lin, Anne Phillips, Randall Schmidt, Margaret Sheehan, Masanori Tada, Kleoniki Tsotropoulou

The Spring 1987 design studio addressed the generative sequences for the process of design and the issuance of building permits for a new class of apartment buildings in Pasadena, which would respect its tradition by making the garden the most ...

Public Events

Visual & Audio Materials

Lecture on "The Nature of Order", given during Fall 1991 22/10/1991

Academic, Audio, Tape

Created by:

Christopher Alexander, University of California Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.

Cassette tape of the fifteenth Fall semester lecture by Christopher Alexander on introducing the “Dynamics of the Step-by-Step Process”, part of a series of lectures on “The Nature of Order”; the duration of the lecture is about one hour ...