This is Lecture 3: “Complex versus simplistic form languages”, by Nikos A. Salingaros, Professor of Mathematics and Architecture at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Included: Vocabulary of forms and tectonics, and their combinatorial properties. Richness of a form language, and measures of its complexity. Different examples of Form Languages. Classical, historical, regional, etc. Industrial-era form languages. Form languages of famous architects.

Unified Architectural Theory, Lecture 3: “Complex versus simplistic form languages”

Readings for Lecture 3: “Complex versus simplistic form languages”

  1. Dave Hora, Nature of Order Lecture 1. http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature623.htm

  2. Salingaros, Nikos A.. "ch. 4 (8, 37-39). Complexity of Form Languages, With Checklist." In Unified Architectural Theory: Form, Language, Complexity—a Companion to Christopher Alexander's "The Phenomenon of Life : the Nature of Order, Book 1", 45-50. Portland, Oregon and Kathmandu, Nepal: Sustasis Foundation and Vajra Books, 2013.

  3. Salingaros, Nikos A.. "ch. 10 (16). Biophilia: Our Evolved Kinship To Biological Forms." In Unified Architectural Theory: Form, Language, Complexity—a Companion to Christopher Alexander's "The Phenomenon of Life : the Nature of Order, Book 1", 93-98. Portland, Oregon and Kathmandu, Nepal: Sustasis Foundation and Vajra Books, 2013.

  4. Politics, Philosophy, and Critical Theory, included in Salingaros, Nikos A., and Kenneth G. Masden II. "Intelligence-Based Design: A Sustainable Foundation for Worldwide Architectural Education." ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research 2, no. 1 (2008): 129-188.

  5. Salingaros, Nikos A.. "The Laws of Architecture From a Physicist’s Perspective." Physics Essays Citations: 3 - 2 self, no. 8 (1995): 638-643.

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