This is Lecture 2: “Form Languages and Pattern Languages”, by Nikos A. Salingaros, Professor of Mathematics and Architecture at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Included: Form language as the basis for a theory of architecture. Requirements for a form language to generate an adaptive architecture. Relationship between form language and pattern language.

Unified Architectural Theory, Lecture 2: “Form Languages and Pattern Languages"

Readings for Lecture 2: Alexander, The Phenomenon of Life, Chapter 2, and Alexander, sampler from “A Pattern Language”: http://www.patternlanguage.com/apl/aplsample/aplsample.htm

  1. Mehaffy, Michael W., Yulia Kryazheva, Andrew Rudd, and Nikos A. Salingaros. A New Pattern Language for Growing Regions: Places, Networks, Processes. Portland, Oregon, USA: Sustasis Press, 2019.

  2. Salingaros, Nikos A.. Three Extracts from chapter 11 "Two Languages for Architecture" In A Theory of Architecture. ATOA. archdaily.com, 2014.

  3. Salingaros, Nikos A.. "ch. 3 (07). Form Languages and Their Vocabulary." In Unified Architectural Theory: Form, Language, Complexity—a Companion to Christopher Alexander's "The Phenomenon of Life : the Nature of Order, Book 1", 40-44. Portland, Oregon and Kathmandu, Nepal: Sustasis Foundation and Vajra Books, 2013.

Texts discussed:

  • Christopher Alexander (2001) The Nature of Order, Book 1: The Phenomenon of Life, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, California. Buy in the USA from: oxbowbooks.com and internationally from: eurospanbookstore.com or from any online bookstore.                     
  • Nikos Salingaros (2013) Unified Architectural Theory: Form, Language, Complexity, Sustasis Press, Portland, Oregon. Buy the paper book from the publisher in the USA levellerspress.com, European edition mijnbestseller.nl, and Asian Edition vajrabookshop.com.1