Feeling, Form, and Function

Seed idea: What can a building a physical space with Christopher Alexander's methods teach us about design? With reflections from a real project, evaluating a drawing vs. standing in the real thing, and questioning the difference between form and function.

Show Notes

Part 1: 00:11
Digesting the experience from using Alexander's methods on a real building project, how feeling is different from analyzing

Mentioned:

• For an intro to Christopher Alexander's work, see my lecture: Christopher Alexander: A Primer

Part 2: 14:19
How form and function are the same thing: better form has better function. Changing the design so it feels better and then finding out it now also works better.

Mentioned:

• A school teaching Alexander's methods, hands-on: Building Beauty
• The Building Beauty Software Initiative

What is Synthetic A Priori?

Step into the messy phase of wrestling with ideas before they become conclusions. Ryan Singer draws connections between design, tech, science, and formal systems.