Unified Architectural Theory: Form, Language, Complexity

A Companion to Christopher Alexander’s “The Phenomenon of Life — The Nature of Order, Book 1”

By Nikos A. Salingaros; with additional contributions by Christopher Alexander, Zaheer Allam, Michael Carey, Peter Eisenman, Léon Krier, Kenneth G. Masden, Michael W. Mehaffy, and Edward O. Wilson

From Christopher Alexander’s long-time colleague — and principal editor of Alexander’s “The Nature of Order” — comes a synthesis that makes sense of buildings from all ages: historical, vernacular, to cutting-edge architectural creations. Salingaros provides an accessible companion-work to the first volume of “The Nature of Order”. This book of lectures and essays reveals new theoretical foundations for design. In clear, easy-to-understand chapters, Salingaros takes readers step by step through the most important ideas of Alexander’s work and his own related contributions towards understanding architecture and its connection to human life. Students are helped to understand the entire range and variety of architectural forms using a common conceptual and explanatory framework. Described here for the first time is the key relationship between regional adaptivity and complexity.

As an experienced professor, Salingaros displays a well-honed skill for lucidly explaining complex subjects to students. A provocative exchange between the poststructuralist architect Peter Eisenman and Alexander, who points the way beyond the nihilism and cynicism of so much contemporary design, and toward a more hopeful future is included. The material gathered here is essential reading for design students, architects, software engineers, and anyone concerned with the evolution of modern design. It gives groundbreaking ideas for design innovation that are invaluable for every practitioner. Much of the material was developed as part of a course that Salingaros gave on the subject, introducing scientific thinking into architecture, and actually estimating factors that contribute to the success of a building.

You can read some chapters from the links below:

http://zeta.math.utsa.edu/~yxk833/UAT-online.html

Buy the International Edition

http://www.vajrabookshop.com/more_info.php?category_cd=39&product_cd=1730&MODE=CART

Buy in India

http://www.amazon.in/Unified-Architectural-Theory-Language-Complexity/dp/9937623057

Buy the US Edition

https://store.collectivecopies.com/store/show/ofc1

Please see the book in WA's Book section

http://www.worldarchitecture.org/?section=books

*Nikos Salingaros is Honorary Member and Country Editor in WA