February 9, 2024

What does it mean for a system to be nourishing?

I’m halfway through Christopher Alexander’s brief essay about architecture The Nature of Order, and many ideas have been coming through as I’ve read it. In his attempt to create a total understanding of what comprises architecture that draws people in, makes them feel at home, makes them feel alive – think old European cities, places in Asia that have lain untouched for thousands of years, or the single remaining block in your city where all of your neighbors still talk to each other – he, somewhat by necessity, needs to create a worldview that exists at opposition to something.