I believe that all centers that appear in space - whether they originate in biology, in physical forces, in pure geometry, in color - are alike simply in that they all animate space. It is this animated space that has its functional effect upon the world, that determines the way things work, that governs the presence of harmony and life.
Christopher AlexanderEveryone is aware that most of the built environment today lacks a natural order, an order which presents itself very strongly in places that were built centuries ago
Christopher AlexanderTo seek the timeless way we must first know the quality without a name. There is a central quality which is the root criterion of life and spirit in a man, a town, a building, or a wilderness. This quality is objective and precise, but it cannot be named.
Christopher AlexanderTo work our way towards a shared language once again, we must first learn how to discover patterns which are deep, and capable of generating life.
Christopher Alexander