Navigating Approaches to the Use of Pattern Language Theory in Practice

Abstract

Christopher Alexander’s Pattern Language Theory (PLT) has been recognized as a valuable methodology to understand complex systems. It has been applied across domains through a variety of different approaches. This article reviews existing approaches to PLT application and reflects upon the differences between them. We find that application generally differs across four components: artefact, activity, roles and tools, informed by practitioners’ diverging values and needs. We elaborate on how consciously navigating the dimensions that these components consist of can help to broaden the application of PLT in practice. We report on the development of a set of conceptual tools that aim to support this process. The resulting “activity kit” has been applied in a Dutch housing renovation project to support homeowners in communication and decision-making to illustrate the applicability of our methodology. It can be concluded that the “activity kit” is a promising approach to broaden the use of PLT and contributes to the methodological repertoire of researchers and practitioners to address complexity in today’s societal challenges.

Can Technology Reinforce Cogency of the Architectural Argument: Trial and Error Approach

“…Many critics of Christopher Alexander have [25] targeted the outcomes of the proposed method. Even this well-respected methodology has failed to produce successful project in many cases, but still remains as a strong foundation for other contemporary research teams [26]; -Our proposed approach has only been assessed against architectural competition tasks, where communications between the design team and the investor are usually limited. In the architectural studio environment, where an enhanced dialogue between all stakeholders is possible, the successfulness of the final design could be measured against the satisfaction of all parties involved.…”