Welcome to the seventh of a lecture series, “Form, Language, Complexity: Unified Architectural Theory”. This is Lecture 7: “Fifteen geometrical properties”, by Nikos A. Salingaros, Professor of Mathematics and Architecture at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Included: Geometrical basis for natural forms. Christopher Alexander’s 15 fundamental properties of coherent structure.

Unified Architectural Theory, Lecture 7: Fifteen geometrical properties

Readings for Lecture 7: Fifteen geometrical properties

  1. Alexander, The Phenomenon of Life, Chapter 5 (2001). 
  2. Dave Hora, Nature of Order, Lectures 2 & 3 (2021). 
  3. Michael Mehaffy, The impacts of symmetry in architecture and urbanism (2020). 
  4. Salingaros, Christopher Alexander’s 15 Fundamental Properties, Chapter 19 of Unified Architectural Theory. 

Supplemental video:

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