Welcome to the ninth of a lecture series, “Form, Language, Complexity: Unified Architectural Theory”. This is Lecture 9: “Subliminal reality: Eye-tracking maps the field of centers”, by Nikos A. Salingaros, Professor of Mathematics and Architecture at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Included: Complexity theory applied to architecture predicts the results of eye-tracking experiments that show how people look at a building: which parts attract attention, and which are avoidant. Our body has evolved to respond to the mathematical aspects of wholeness. 

Unified Architectural Theory, Lecture 9: Subliminal reality: Eye-tracking maps the field of centers

Readings for Lecture 9: “Subliminal reality: Eye-tracking maps the field of centers”

  1. Alexander, The Phenomenon of Life, Chapters 3 & 4 (2001).
  2. Alexander, The Phenomenon of Life, Appendix 6 (2001). 
  3. Mehaffy & Salingaros, “The Transformation of Wholes”, Chapter 23 of Unified Architectural Theory. 
  4. Salingaros, Chapters 21 “Organized complexity and a model that estimates life in architecture”, and 22 “Wholeness and geometrical coherence” of Unified Architectural Theory. 
  5. Salingaros & Sussman, “Biometric pilot-studies reveal the arrangement and shape of windows on a traditional façade to be implicitly “engaging”, whereas contemporary façades are not” (2020). https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/4/2/26
  6. Sussman and Ward, “Empathy in Design: Measuring How Faces Make Places” (2020).

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