Christopher Alexander and constructive diagrams

Village bund at Village Khor  India

Writing in his preface to a later edition of the book, Alexander disclaims much of his design theory program as an end in itself, but he nevertheless maintains that the constructive diagrams remain vital:

"if you try to understand the idea that you can create abstract patterns by studying the implications of limited systems of forces, and can create new forms by free combinations of these patterns - and realize that this will only work if the patterns which you define deal with systems of forces whose internal interaction is very dense, and whose interaction with jthe other forces in the world is very weak - then, in the process of trying to create such such diagrams for yourself, you will reach the central idea which this book is all about" (1971)

The book contains an appendix which is an application of the program, using an Indian village as an example.  In the life of such a village, he says, there are 4 main aspects:.  

a. cattle and bullock carts and fuel
b agricultural production, irrigation  and distribution
c. communal life of the village both social and industrial
d. private life and shelter

He also identifies 141 areas of possible misfit through process of observation and research and classifies them within  the four subsets. Each of these "sub-sets" (in terms of the program) is further divided into smaller sub-sets.  The entire set of smaller sub-sets combines the 141 misfit areas.

Christopher Alexander  Diagram B

Alexander then constructs a drawing or constructive diagram which is his solution and his ideal method of resolving the issues thrown up within the sub-sets.  In this diagram, part of "B" (agricultural and irrigation processes)  he shows a long curved causeway (or bund) on one side of which is collected water from springs running down the slope.  The squiggles indicate trees planted to prevent erosion and maximise water production.  On the top side are the shared fields, together with 3 collection points for seeds and a demonstration farm.

I made a three dimensional sketch to try and grasp the diagram.  What is unusual is that there is no aesthetic process in the design.  It is simply based on practical and social knowledge.
This certainly is a radical way to design.  My instinct is to impose a sense of form - just what he says is wrong with designers in general!

In my next post I will review the agricultural, social and private aspects of life in the village