Homes are Technology Merriam-Webster defines technology as “the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area”. Our homes are great examples of technology: they are structures that shelter us from the elements and give us space to perform the tasks of living. Technology is good to the extent that it enables us to do what we […]
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#251: Warm Colors
Pattern The greens and greys of hospitals and office corridors are depressing and cold. Natural wood, sunlight, bright colors are warm. In some way, the warmth of the colors in a room makes a great deal of difference. … Choose surface colors which, together with the natural light, reflected light, and artificial lights, create a […]
#252: Pools of Light
Pattern Uniform illumination — the sweetheart of the lighting engineers — serves no useful purpose whatsoever. In fact, it destroys the social nature of space, and makes people feel disoriented and unbounded. … Place the lights low, and apart, to form individual pools of light which encompass chairs and tables like bubbles to reinforce the […]
#253: Things from Your Life
(This is the start of a series in which I will be going through Christopher Alexander’s “Pattern Language” book in reverse order, from the smallest patterns toward the larger, in the hopes of educating myself to recognize and implement the patterns. I don’t expect to understand or agree with all of the patterns — indeed, […]