"a Pattern Language" as a Network

"A Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander¹ is one of the most influential books in urban planning (as well as software development²).

The book models architectural and urban design as sets of "design patterns". Each pattern is composed of smaller patterns, and compose larger patterns in return, creating what is essentially a conceptual network of design elements.

Say, for example, we want to design a Seat in a Garden. This has it's own pattern in the book: Pattern 176 Garden Seat. Each pattern first describes how it fits into the larger patterns that it is part of:

"with the character of the garden fixed — garden growing wild (172), we consider the special corners which make the garden valuable and somewhat secret. Of these, the most important is the sunny place (161), which has already been described, because it is so fundamental to the building. Now we add to this another seat, more private, where a person can go to sit and think and dream. [...] see especially city country fingers (3) and quiet backs (59)"

It follows a more thorough description of what Alexander thinks makes for a good garden seat (and why it's important). Finally, he lists the patterns that are useful in constructing a garden seat:

"Place the garden seat, like other outdoor seats, where it commands a view, is in the sun, is sheltered from the wind — seat spots (241); perhaps under bushes and trees where light is soft and dappled — filtered light (238)"

Here are all 253 patterns connected in this way (I higlighted a minimal set of connections needed to keep all chapters connected³):