The document discusses Christopher Alexander and his influence on different fields. It notes that while interaction designers and computer scientists love Alexander, architects have a more complicated relationship with him. It explores some of Alexander's ideas and influence, as well as the debate he sparked with architects. The document aims to untangle Alexander's influences and architecture's love-hate relationship with his work.
16. •Studied architecture at Cambridge
•Formal logic & generative systems
•Moving to the US in the same time
•Eisenman hated Alexander’s dissertation
•A vicious debate at Harvard in 1983
17.
18.
19. ―Design today has reached the stage
where sheer inventiveness can no
longer sustain it.‖
—Christopher Alexander, 1963
27. ―I believe…that we are on the
threshold of an era that will be
strongly influence, and quite
possibly dominated, by
intelligent problem-solving
28. SO WHY DO ARCHITECTS
HATE
CHRISTOPHERALEXANDER?
29. ―The biggest obstacle to
improved design standards is
the obsolescence of designers
themselves.‖
–Christopher Alexander & Serge Chermayeff
30. ―Monument and doghouse alike bear the
dreadful imprint of self-appointed
genius or just plain incompetence.‖
–Christopher Alexander & Serge
Chermayeff