The Timeless Way of Building
The Timeless Way of Building

The Timeless Way of Building
Manufacturer:
Oxford University Press

UPC:
978019502402

Retail Price:
$55.00

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This volume provides the opening work in Christopher Alexander's seminal trilogy on architecture (continued in A Pattern Language and The Oregon Experiment). Here he provides a fascinating introduction to the ideas behind the succeeding two books.
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The Timeless Way of Building Specs:
Product NameThe Timeless Way of Building
ManufacturerOxford University Press
Product Number MPN0195024028
Retail Price $55.00
EAN-139780195024029
EAN-1409780195024029
UPC978019502402
Specifications 
TitleThe Timeless Way of Building
ISBN0195024028
Author(s)Christopher Alexander
Release Date1979
FormatHardcover
Num of Pages568
Num. of Items1
TopicUrban Planning, Study & Teaching
EAN9780195024029
Dimensions8.1 x 5.6 x 1.23 in.
Weight0.5 lbs.
Deal first added on:20-January-2004

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Design & Drafting architecture Study & Teaching Planning Pattern perception
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Latest 6 Reviews
Here is what people are saying about the The Timeless Way of Building
2 Star Rating  "Didactic, less practical than A Pattern Language"2009-08-04
- Reviewed By User: A2BQPSBYDNK1ON
The Timeless Way is an important book and worth reading for anyone in the fields of architecture, design, development, construction, or community planning, and many others who are interested in the subject. However, it is didactic and requires several grains of salt to read.

Alexander is poetic and brilliant at times, annoying and luddite at others. This book is better read as a meditative 'centering' than as a practical exercise. For those who have some grounding in the concept or otherwise are looking for practical advice, the companion volume, A Pattern Language, is the better choice. Sure you can and perhaps should read both. But these are lengthy tomes and this one can actually be quite a turnoff at times.

If I hadn't read A Pattern Language first and practiced the patterns in action and seen how effective they Can be, I don't know if I'd have been able to trust much of Alexander in this one. His rhetoric can quickly become overblown and repetitive, and is best read in snippets. I did find it a restful way to spend my lunch over several months. Reading a few pages at a time, I could meditate on the poetry and the peace within and avoid the overtones of egotistic genius.

Very Harold Roarke in his insistence on his One True Way - ironically anti-Ayn Rand in his insistence on the community and collaborative process: Alexander essentially insists that architects and designers and city planners are not necessary. This is like insisting that we all grow our own food and weave our own cloth.

Having worked in one-on-one roles directly with clients, and also in community 'consensus driven' processes - I beg to differ with much of Alexander's essential theory: that any group of folk can automatically come together to design rooms, buildings, complexes of buildings, etc. in a virtually leaderless way simply by implementing the 'patterns.' And that construction drawings and written specifications are superfluous. In my experience the opposite is true - the more detailed the drawing and the tighter the written spec, the more fully realized the design is before ever breaking ground - the more successful the project is with less surprises, mistakes, stress, and costly problems.

Sure, much of contemporary architecture is dead, cold, barren. Sure, many, many, many architects and designers are lazy and uncreative, or many who are creative and talented are too ego-driven and care little for their occupants' experiences of the buildings they draw. But Alexander would have Lloyd Wright, Gropius, Philip Johnson et. al. consigned to the dustbin. This aspect is troubling. I do suggest reading The Timeless Way for those in the field and others who are so inclined, as it has much to offer. But I recommend A Pattern Language much more.

For other of my didactic (and meditative?) views on design and construction, see [...]
 
5 Star Rating  "The Most Important Computer Programming Book Ever Written."2009-04-26
- Reviewed By User: AKO1Y2L8TL95O
This is the most important COMPUTER BOOK ever written. This is where design patterns come from. Without it everything would be different.

Design Patterns Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software by GoF could never have been written.

Sometimes seems out of date now. But you have to remember that Alexander started writing the book durning the 1960's and it was released during the era of The Whole Earth Catalog.
 
3 Star Rating  "Too philosophical for a non-architect"2008-12-27
- Reviewed By User: A1O62N5C5JLBUC
A colleague recommended this book to me. I am a software developer and he said that this would be a good book for me to read to better understand the concepts that are shared in this book.

I haven't finished it yet. I've been working on getting through the book for the past 2 months. I continue to pick it up and read a chapter or two and then put it down again.

It is so theoretical that I'm struggling with the concepts as they relate to what I'm doing.

Perhaps my opinion will change later on after I have finished the book, because I know a lot of people think very highly of this author, but for now, I'm not getting how it relates to what I do.
 
2 Star Rating  "Philosophical, but probably impractical"2008-12-08
- Reviewed By User: A15LY699PB35ET
Got this book by reference of another book recommendation, but it does not seem to be that great. I find it rather too philosophical and very boring actually. Perhaps someday I will read it again and find the true inner meaning of the book.
 
5 Star Rating  "Great review here!"2007-05-19
- Reviewed By User: A2GKC3V0KZPRL3
The book was in fantastic condition. I received it very quickly as well. And so far has been a fantastic read. thank you!!
 
4 Star Rating  "Great information"2007-03-09
- Reviewed By User: A39CSP03V58DR3
We are in the process of designing a home. This book was recommended as being good food for thought in planning a future home. It is not an easy read but well worth the effort. It,along with another from the same author,is required reading for college students in architecture. This book establishes the "language" for describing all the elements inside and outside buildings, neighborhoods, towns, etc. "A Pattern Language" is the sequel which explains in great detail how to apply this language. I would recommend both to anyone who is planning a future home - especially a custom-built home.
 
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