In Memory of Alexander Kristofer

Abstract

The article attempts to take a holistic look at the legacy of the famous architectural theorist Christopher Alexander a year after his death. The author reveals the significance of his revolutionary ideas without exaggeration and analyzes the reasons for the lack of a full-fledged scientific discussion around them. The reasoning is based on appeals to Alexander's basic work "The Nature of Order", which is important for understanding other, more specific provisions of Alexander – in particular, those contained in the "Template Language". The reference point for Alexander is nature as a complexly organized whole, the criterion is its beauty. In his critique of modern architecture, Alexander builds a multilevel system of causality, covering almost all levels of being. The author considers this unique approach to be one of the factors that complicate the "dialogue" with Alexander: it is difficult to cover it, and having covered it, it is difficult to deny the strict logic of the concept. As a result, Alexander's positions remain practically "under the bushel" and are still waiting for their true discovery.