📚🏛️ Book Club: The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander
This is The Commons Campus 🏛️ book club for "The Timeless Way of Building" by Christopher Alexander.
This book is said to be one of the most important books on architectural theory of the late 20th century. Alexander takes the concept of living patterns to architecture, and, by extension of the act of creation, to life itself. The seminal work is the foundation of the pattern approach to system design that has sprung up in many disciplines, most notably software design. One part complexity theory, one part architectural and city-planning theory, and one part spiritual treatise - it's not just a technical book about architecture, but rather a meandering exploration that circles around the deepest questions of human life and beauty, seen from the standpoint of a builder. An inquisition into the way in which we order and give meaning to our universe. A spiritual experience in the guise of an architecture book.
format.
We will split the book up into 10 sections
We’ll spend the 1st hour of each gathering reading while listenting to classical music or lo-fi beats. Bring pens to annotate!
The 2nd hour will be spent discussing it. I’ll post discussion questions the day before to this notion doc.
You’re welcome to join in the second half if you’ve read the book before-hand, though I strongly encourage collective reading if possible.
❗ Please grab the book before our first session, preferably a physical copy. Reading it is a visual and tactile experience. The book is available on Amazon and also via http://libgen.is/ for free.
schedule.
We’ll be meeting every Thursday from Jan 19th to March 22nd in the philosophy salon area of The Commons (the larger event space with lots of comfy seating).
Jan 19, 8p-10p
8-8:15: opening + share reason for choosing this book with friend next to you
8:15-8:45: Christopher Alexander documentary “A Place for the Soul”
8:45-9:30: read 50 pages chp 1, 2, 3
9:30-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Jan 26, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 4, 5, 6.
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Feb 2, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 7, 8, 9.
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Feb 9, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 10, 11, 12
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Feb 16, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 12, 13, 14.
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Feb 23, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 15, 16, 17
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Mar 2, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 18, 19, 20.
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Mar 9, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 21, 22, 23
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Mar 16, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 23, 34, 25
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)
Mar 22, 8p-10p
8-9pm: read next 50 pages; chp 26, 27
9-10pm: discussion (questions here)