neighbourhoods, buildings and even rooms (Alexander, Ishikawa and Silverstein, 1977). The.
patterns are closely connected and usually a number of them are required to be used together to.
make a place work and the problem solving approach provides a comprehensive response to the.
often cited problem of "loss of community identity". Some of the major patterns are mentioned.
briefly below.
2.4.1 Alexander's Pattern Language Approach.
Alexander suggests a population of 7,000 in which a number of neighbourhoods are clustered is.
the ideal size for an identifiable community group. Such a community would be defined by natural.
and other boundaries. Each of the neighbourhoods would also have identifiable characteristics.
and would include pockets of common land (shared by clusters of 8 to 12 buildings - called house.
clusters if residential), individually owned shops and corner grocery stores, row houses, small.
public squares (20m in diameter), and scattered parking area pockets. Some neighbourhoods.
would also include activity nodes, shopping streets, shielded parking, food stands and accessible.
greens (larger public areas). Neighbourhoods would be linked by a web of public transportation,.
networks of paths and cars and a major pedestrian promenade.
Other essential features of the Alexander approach to urban design include the need for rings of.
decreasing density away from central nodes (even within a neighbourhood with a population of.
500) and medium densities overall (as opposed to the current trend towards high densities. In.
addition Alexander imposes a general limit of four storeys for any building (with limited exceptions.
allowed for non residential buildings). This is due to the apparent psychological effects on people.
who live and work in tall buildings resulting from the detachment from society that occurs the.
further away from the ground one lives. Above four storeys one cannot comfortably walk down,.
call out or otherwise feel a part of the street scene below.