Welcome to the eighth of a lecture series, “Form, Language, Complexity: Unified Architectural Theory”. This is Lecture 8: “Fractals and ornament generate attachment”, by Nikos A. Salingaros, Professor of Mathematics and Architecture at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Included: Alexander’s property “Levels of Scale” summarizes the fundamental mathematical structure of matter, known as a fractal. In forms, a fractal has structure on many different ordered scales and is the opposite of minimalism.

Unified Architectural Theory, Lecture 8: Fractals and ornament generate attachment

Readings for Lecture 8: “Fractals and ornament generate attachment”

  1. Alexander, The Phenomenon of Life, Chapter 6 (2001). 
  2. Mehaffy et al., New Patterns: FRACTAL PATTERN and FRAMING: http://npl.wiki/view/welcome-visitors/view/growing-regions/view/geometric-patterns/view/framing
  3. Mehaffy & Salingaros, “Scaling and Fractals”, Chapter 25 of Unified Architectural Theory. 
  4. Salingaros, “Fractals and hierarchical scaling” Chapter 20, and “Recursion and Stress Reduction Through Fractals” Chapter 24 of Unified Architectural Theory. 
  5. Salingaros, “Fractal Art and Architecture Reduce Physiological Stress”, Chapter 26 of Unified Architectural Theory. 
  6. Salingaros, Mikiten & Yu, sections 10 “Connection establishes a physiological state”, and 12 “Some guidelines for pavement designs”, from Pavements as Embodiments of Meaning for a Fractal Mind.

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