How the fifteen properties appear in nature from the unfolding of wholeness

Think about the wholeness dynamically. Everything is changing constantly. Every process which occurs on earth continuously changes, transforms, modifies the wholeness which exists. So the wholeness is continuously evolving. At any given moment, in any given region of space, there is a wholeness Wt. At the next moment, this gives way to another wholeness Wt+1. The transformation of Wt to Wt+1 is the way the world unfolds: Wt -> Wt+1. Everything is covered by it.
What happens when the unfolding is smooth? The transformation is structure-preserving. At any moment t, there is a certain wholeness, Wt. At the next moment t+1, this leads to a new wholeness, Wt+1, which is consistent with the previous wholeness Wt; indeed, the next step, Wt+1, is one of the relatively few steps (of all possible steps forward) which is very deeply consistent with the wholeness Wt.

Is structured editing a form of this? There are certain steps that do not end up in syntax errors and could be interpreted as structure-preserving, while there are many other steps that break consistency and end up in error states. The problem, however, is that there are many good states that can only be reached through a number of bad states in between.

What this means, in a nutshell, is that during the transition to Wt+1 the centers in Wt are not violated. They are preserved. Thus, in general, additional centers will be created that reinforce and strengthen the centers that already exist. In the cases where centers are taken out (death, pruning, simplification), they are removed, still, in such a way as to leave as many as possible of the larger centers intact. Under these circumstances, as layer upon layer of smooth unfolding takes place, what develops is a system centers which is stronger, crustier, and more imbricated, and in which the centers (at first hundreds, then thousands, or tens of thousands) all reinforce and intensify one another.

All this hinges on the fact that wholeness is entirely made of centers. Since it is made of centers, a transformation which preserves the structure of the wholeness must then preserve most of these centers.
From this it follows that the new centers which are created at each step will be related, through repeated new appearances of the fifteen properties, to the previously existing centers. I have asserted, in Book 1, chapter 5, that the fifteen properties are the fifteen ways in which centers can enliven one another. Hence, if under a structure-preserving transformation, new centers are being added that enliven or deepen the existing centers, this means that the fifteen properties must slowly come into being, step by step, with each new transformation. Otherwise, the new centers will not enliven or deepen the older ones.

1. Levels of scale

For example, within a given center A or directly near it, we shall find smaller centers, B, one level of scale smaller. That happens because any perturbation or irregularity which develops near A causes the start of a latent center B. As this latent center gets stronger, the strengthening will then cause a nucleation near the first center. The nucleation must be at a jump in scale, since if too similar in size it would not preserve the structure.

The process is quite general. If a large center is developing, and within it, somewhere, a small dot occurs (randomly), then to intensify this small center under structure-preserving transformations without disturbing the larger center, the small center must be kept substantially smaller than the first; yet if it is too small, it does nothing to enhance the larger one. If it has a scale at which it does not disturb and yet actively enhances the first center, the second one will be just one order of magnitude smaller than the big one. Repeated application of a process which enhances structure must create the property levels of scale.

2. Strong centers

In general, in any system where one center forms, as structure-preserving transformations occur, other smaller centers will then emerge, will be intensified and themselves strengthened in just such a way that by virtue of their position and arrangement they intensify the first center. This causes the field effect around the first center. Gradually, it will occur around every center.

3. Boundaries

At any moment in the evolution of a system, each center which exists has a latent boundary zone around it just by virtue of the nature of the center, separating it from adjacent centers and joining it to them. The boundary zone is the zone where the steepest gradient of differentiation falls off around the center. In one form or another it must occur, by definition, around any center. Under structure-preserving transformations, this latent boundary zone will intensify and encourage new centers to form within the boundary zone, as it strengthens the existing center, ultimately creating a big boundary which is strong in itself.

4. Alternating repetition

Inevitably, in every structure, events (and local structures) repeat. This is typical at all scales.

The effect is general. In any repetition there will, obviously, be latent centers (not yet fully existing centers) in some of the spaces between adjacent centers in the repetition. Assume, then, that a structure-preserving transformation occurs. The latent center between some pair of centers will develop and become a center in its own right. If the spaces between the repeating centers are themselves similar (as they will often be), this center-forming process will gradually occur in each one of the centers lying between the first system of centers — thus forming a second system of repeating centers tucked between the first system. After a number of transformations of this kind, there will be alternating repetition throughout the repetition.

5. Positive space

Consider a small zone of empty space somewhere in a system that is currently not inhabited with strong centers. By virtue of its geometry, at least some regions of this empty space will have a weak latent quality as centers. Like the empty space between two adjacent blobs, they will be center-like but undeveloped. Sooner or later, by moving material to make the shape of this “empty” space more coherent, structure-preserving transformations make these latent centers in the space more and more center-like. As they become centers they become more positive in shape. They will gather themselves together and differentiations will occur around the edge to intensify the shape and make it still more center-like.

Under structure-preserving transformations, such a process will occur quite generally in any system. Gradually, each bit of space that has any latency to be center-like gets formed more and more strongly as a center. As the empty space is filled, pushed, pulled, connected, each bit of it becomes a center, and slowly becomes more positive. The property positive space slowly makes its appearance throughout the space.

6. Good shape

Consider an emerging shape within a developing whole. The shape often exists, at some early stage, as a weakly formed “possible” shape, not yet very sharply defined. As structure-preserving transformations are applied, the latent centers which appear both within this shape and next to it, even if only dimly present, will be strengthened and made into a more definite center.

Under structure-preserving transformations of a form, one by one, the vaguely existing centers within the shape are replaced by definite centers; as a result the shape strengthens. Gradually, throughout the space, just that character emerges that I previously defined as good shape: each shape is redefined so that it is made throughout of well-formed centers.

7. Local symmetries

The centeredness of a given center is almost always strengthened by local symmetry — not always, but almost always.

More generally, during structure-preserving transformations, symmetrical and near-symmetrical evolution of centers maintains global structure, while “cleaning up” structural debris. Thus, at least some centers get reinforced and strengthened by local symmetries that intensify local centers. As structure is preserved, the density of local symmetries will typically increase: local symmetries, sometimes distorted to accommodate to other nearby structures, will appear more and more often throughout the space.

8. Deep interlock and ambiguity

Along an edge between two zones, random perturbations will form disturbances which start as latent centers. As these randomly occurring latent centers get intensified, the centers go in one direction or another, into either one zone or the other zone along the edge. In many cases, there are additional functional constraints which make it desirable for these “edge” centers to belong to the larger centers on both sides of the line.

Very generally, along an edge which separates major centers, as minor centers along the edge get strengthened, they often swell in dimension, and penetrate more deeply into the zones of the two larger centers on either side of the edge. As a result of this process, centers are established which interpenetrate the larger centers, causing deep interlock. In those cases where the new centers may belong, functionally, to either one side to the other, the formation of the new centers will often also cause spatial ambiguity.

9. Contrast

One result of a structure-preserving transformation is to give each center more distinctness, more differentiation from its surroundings. The differentiation can take many forms, but often requires opposition of contrasting polarities, either in density, or material, or charge, or color.
This effect can have surprising forcefulness. It is comparable to the process of leveling and sharpening that occurs when we make a black and white Xerox copy of a finely shaded photograph with gray tones. Differences get increased, so that the forms stand out more sharply.

To accomplish contrast, structure-preserving transformations increase the contrast of a pattern by intensifying both its internal differentiation and its differentiation from the surrounding environment.

10. Gradients

When a center appears, the ongoing structure-preserving transformations do what they can to intensify that center. As a consequence, the space around the center will gradually be re-organized to include gradients of various kinds, which orient themselves toward that center, strengthening it by means of a field effect.

More generally, whenever there is a center, for different but vaguely similar reasons, the geometry of space is likely to induce phenomena that fall off with something line an inverse-square law from the middle simply because of the geometry of space, thus creating gradients. In supporting and strengthening the center, these inverse-square related gradients will develop, thus forming gradient phenomena. As a result we may expect to find a variety of graded phenomena following formation of any center, where field strengths of the gradient point toward the centers, so reinforcing and strengthening the existence of the center. Slowly gradients will make their appearance throughout the space, around many of the centers.

11. Roughness

As a system comes to order, the structure-preserving pressure to form centers — especially larger centers — will often refine boundaries, edges, shapes, and connections in unusual and apparently inelegant ways that look like inaccuracies. However, these apparent inaccuracies are a direct result of careful and highly subtle adaptations, that come about inevitably as a result of the structure-preserving process.

Slowly, in any structure-preserving process, roughness always makes its appearance. Even among individual atoms, we see roughness. That is, we find imperfect similarity from one atom to the next within a crystal, even when the atoms are of the same type. Note, though, that roughness is only an apparent irregularity. Really, it is a necessary feature, the outward sign of deeper order as larger centers are perfected.

12. Echoes

In any system where there are structure-preserving transformations, it is nearly inevitable that the same process will be repeated, locally, through zones of the system. In addition, some processes will be repeated, but with minor modifications according to context.

In every structure-preserving process, we shall find a great many cases where similarities of process create similar systems of centers — hence structural similarities, or echoes of similar angles and shapes — which bear a family resemblance to one another in the different centers where they appear.

13. The void

Part of the process of structure-preserving requires cleaning out from time to time, just as an orchard must be pruned. When a situation appears where there are too many centers, too crowded together, in a confusion of structure, a structure-preserving process must be applied to the situation, since the conglomeration of centers becomes so confused that it begins to undermine the coherence of the centers. That means the process must act to discern the deep structure, the most important structure beneath the confusion. The important structure must then be preserved and the rest cut away.
As a result, structure-preserving transformations frequently act to create the void. As structure is preserved, the transformations act to preserve distinctness. One of the ways this happens most frequently, is that dense highly differentiated structure gets set off against empty, clean smooth structure, and distinctness is maintained.
We may also express this by saying that crowded complex structure often ends up living at the edge of a much larger homogeneous void, and that the contrast between the intricate structure and the vast emptiness is needed to maintain the structure of the intricacy.

14. Simplicity and inner calm

As the cleaning out of irrelevant structure continues, centers will be further intensified by simplification. Slowly, a state appears in which nothing unnecessary remains present and in which all irrelevant or confusing centers that irritate the structure or reduce the value or importance of other centers are removed. This simplification occurs in nature constantly.

Only the essential structure is allowed to remain, in a kind of simplification that is reminiscent of Occam’s razor.
The simplicity of the state comes about naturally as the result of the structure-preserving process.

15. Not-separateness

The more the structure-preserving works, the more it brings out the underlying unity which exists in any system. This unity is preserved, and intensified, by the structure-preserving action. Thus throughout, as the structure develops through its uncompleted forms, the pressure to unify, and unify continues, by creating links, by wrapping each center into a web of other centers, tying everything together.

Each part becomes wedded more firmly to the others. Exaggerated differences are eliminated.
In general, as the finishing touch to the structure-preserving process, small infill centers for fine-tuning are placed to create a pervasive sheet-like unity. Gradually, during this process, each part becomes inseparable from the others, allowing not-separateness to appear.

#book/The Nature of Order/2 The process of creating life/2 Structure-preserving transformations#

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Book 2 Cliff Notes
[[Living processes]]

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A foundation for all of architectureA more general class of tests for lifeA new view of natureA world which enhances human lifeAbout the nature of the universeAbout the Nature of OrderAlexander and CyberneticsAlexander and LakoffChristopher Alexander and ReligionAlexander in contextAlexander's foreword to Patterns of SoftwareAlternating repetitionAlways look one level above and below your current...An empirical test for comparing the degree of life...Andre Kertesz’s ParisAre peoples’ wishes really universal?Arrangement in space (and time) is fundamental to...Attempt of a summary of Alexander’s theoryAuthentic architecture with deep feeling has...The mirror of the selfA dynamic view of orderOrder as becomingOur mechanized processPossibility of a new view of architectural processProcess, the key to making life in thingsThe concept of living structureThe necessary role of processA final comment on architectureA principle of unfolding wholenessAppearance of the fifteen propertiesCreation of structure as it occurs in natureEmergence of living structureNote for the scientific readerPreviously offered explanations of emergence from...The fifteen properties emerge directly from the...The need for a general explanation of the way that...The principle of unfolding wholeness in natureA power station made to help a valleyA snow block in an iglooAn operational basis: How each center, as it is...Differentiation of an imaginary building...Emergence of strong centers at fine scale in the...Emergence of the fifteen propertiesEmerging centers which help the wholeSuccessful adaptationThe Julian street innThe pervasive generality of the center-making...The playful core of the matterWhy is it so difficult to form centers by...A generative sequence for apartment buildings in...ConclusionExample of a larger generative sequence: a...Further insight into the real nature of living...Generative sequences are the key to the success of...Generative sequences in traditional societySequences of unfolding in architectureThe mathematical scarcity of good sequencesThe mental change needed to allow yourself the...The role of sequence in preserving structureThe vital interplay of form and sequenceUniqueness of different apartment buildings...Vital importance of the “right” sequenceEvery living process is — at its core — a process...Geometry: uniqueness, regularity, differentiationRegularity: fact and fictionRespect for what existsThe surprising character of what unfoldsUniqueness arises naturally from sequence from...A new language for houses in PeruDiscovering new pattern-languages: how to draw a...Essential centers not gimmicksGeneric rules for making centers or “making life...Human culture as a part of physicsLooking for glimpses of eternal lifePattern languagesPatterns as generic centers and the evolution of...Structure-preserving transformations as the origin...The deep nature of patterns and pattern languagesThe Eishin school pattern languageThe process of finding a good centerThe system of patterns emanates as a wholeThe type of observation which leads to discovery...A new whole emerges: life v. mechanism — the...A panel of yellow blossomsAppendix: the hard work of creating an engine that...Choosing among doors according to degree of...Classrooms in the rainDeep feeling must be the core of living processDesigning a music cabinetFeeling as the origin of the artistic wholeGrasping the feeling of a fishpond as a wholeThe aim of every living process is, at each step,...The black columnsThe formless but specific feeling of the wholeWholeness and feelingWill deep feeling really be possible? In...A further structural exampleA generative process for middle-range order in the...A glimpse of the idea of a generating sequence for...Formation of brutal and massive chunks in the...Geometric orderOutward simplicity of form and packing of formReasons for brutal geometric order to evolveThe aperiodic gridThe Sapporo buildingWhat is really happening in such a caseWhat seems like an imposition of geometry is...Building a form-language from theoryEnsor’s masks: the form language of an ultramodern...Historically, what kind of thing did a form...How can human beings implement a geometrical...Possibility of a form language for all future timeThe form of future buildings — sketches to...The format of our artThe modern theory of languageThe style needed for unfolded, living formTwentieth-century struggles to invent a...Why twentieth-century form languages were not...All there isAt each step get rid of everything that is not...Doing the simplest thing: the basis of all...Final section on simplicityHow is the simple to be achieved? A spiritual...Japanese asymmetriesNatural symmetriesNothingnessSymmetry, simplicity, and just what is requiredThe drive to simplicityThe idea of a natural system of symmetriesWhat is simple?Improving computer-aided design (CAD) processesImproving processesImproving streets to enhance neighborhoodsImproving zoning rulesIntroduction: What do processes actually look like...Morphogenetic processesSlow improvement of *all* social processesThe breadth of processes that can be improvedThe primary function of societyDifficulties of sequence caused by separating...Difficulties of sequence which originate in...Elements of society in which changes must be madeExcessive rigidity of rulesFurther difficulties of inappropriate sequence:...Further difficulties of sequence caused by the...Inappropriate sequence caused by administrative...Intentional rigidity of rules — the influence of...Long-in-tooth difficulties of insufficient freedom...The biggest source of monsters — profit-based...The death of beauty: a huge system effect which...The footsteps of Thomas Kuhn — A vital need to...The generation of monstersThe need for a true shift of paradigmA new view of the natural worldFifteen transformationsHow the fifteen properties appear in nature from...In buildings, too, all living structure grows...Minimum symmetry breakingRepeated application of structure-preserving...Structure-preserving transformations further...Structure-preserving transformationsThe objectivity of structure-preserving...Criteria for evolution — Sequences as a medium of...Forty thousand morphogenetic processesInterdependence of sequencesMore on the length of sequencesMore snippable short sequences — Construction...Morphogenetic processes — a piecemeal approach to...Other recent steps in the evolution of society...Snippable genes — the optimum size of sequences...The emergence of sequences that consecrate our...The gene pool: further process of improvement and...The Grameen bank sequence: a single sniffable gene...The linkages stimulate evolution of further...The network evolvesThe network of sequencesThe spread of one, small, “snippable” gene which...What is it that will allow this sequence to be...A new definition of architectureA vision of the futureFirst major problem: the very large — How to...Larger and deeperMy assumption about our professionSecond major problem: the very small — How to...The architectThe architect’s dreamWhat place, then, for us architects?Deep feeling as the guiding principleRepairing the wholeThe biology of our future worldThe far-distant futureA deeper conception of the living roomA first sketchA radical new processAnalysis of costChecking the neighbors’ viewsCommon sense: an overview of the processConcrete wall detailsDeeper questions about the feeling of the planEstablishing roomsExtension of the lot: the little plum treeFinding a siteFirst analysis of the site with rough twisted...First emergence of an interior planFull-size tests of volume and position on the siteLaying the house out on the landManagement agreement that feeling must guide even...Plasterwork experimentsSetting the main-floor levelStart of constructionStarting to get a general idea of constructionThe retaining wallUpstairs roomsLove of lifeSmooth unfolding as the origin of life in...Smooth unfolding in the traditional world of...Inspiring modern cases where unfolding did occurConclusionExamples of structure-destroying transformations...Interior structure of buildingsMass-produced building and city formOther examples of structure-destroying...Some sympathy for the architects who made these...The advent of structure-destroying transformations...The thrall of imagesWhy all processes do not create lifeA wide range of structure-preserving processes and...Living processesThe underlying processes whose traces we hav seenThe wondrous character of life in modern timesA thousand trillion possible mistakes in a human...Analysis of a few generated structures by means of...ComplexityConclusion of the discussion on generated...Creating highly complex objectsDifferentiationHow to count mistakesIn individual buildings, too, we may ask what is...One million possible mistakes in a communityStructures that have unfolded in timeThe complexity that was generated in ShilnathThe five-thousand possible mistakes in a typical...The geometry of complexityThe greek marble horseThe significance of generated structureThe social and monetary cost of the one million...A process of creating meadowsDefinitionDifferentiationEmergence of beautiful geometryExtreme generality of the concept of living...Necessary features of all living processOverview: The fundamental differentiating processPractical manifestations of living processSummary so farThe class of living processesThe fundamental differentiating processThe fundamental processThe hierarchy of individual and accretive...The naturalness of living processThe secretArchitectural implicationsBack to generated structure once againFeedbackGetting things rightGradual progress toward living structureOverall implicationsStep-by-step adaptationThe result must be unpredictableUnfolding of a painting by MatisseAt each step decide only what you know with...Common senseEach step is always helping to enhance the wholeIn summaryMicrocosm of a process which is guided by the...The modern problem of designThe process of capturing the wholeThe whole then emerges from these transformationsThe wholeTo be guided by the whole, we must pay attention...Living processesHow many possible living structures are there?Freshness and deep adaptation — the class of...My intention in book 3Repeated application of living process in city and...A historical example of a living processExamples of life-creating processes from our eraThe continuous flow of creation in a region of the...Widely spread life-creating processesConclusion1 Who, today, can truly enjoy belonging to the...2 The uniqueness of individuals, families, and...3 The living room of society4 Interlock of private and public, and continuous...5 The impact of living process on belonging6 An invariant morphology which will be generated...1 A question2 A vital comment about people’s wishes3 A direct sequence of logical steps leading from...4 Shiratori: a new form of high-density housing at...5 Chikusasai: 40 families per acre6 Evaluation of the Shiratori and Chikusadai plans7 A possible world-wide archetype8 Some invariants for high-density housingImportant note: simulation and reality1 The stuff of life2 The essential reason for dynamic thinking3 Santa Rosa de Cabal, Columbia4 Feedback, diagnosis and repair5 Laying out a larger neighborhood by a dynamic...6 Moshav Shorashim in the Galilee7 The Fort Mason bench8 Doing work together9 Some morphological invariants that will...1 Every place will be unique10 Office layout process11 Mass-housing where each family make their own...12 How symmetries and asymmetries get created13 Morphological invariants likely to appear in...2 Three houses by telephone3 A house for Geoffrey and Linda Gioja4 A house for Jim and Sylvia Heisey5 A house for Mike and Patricia Goddu6 Overview of the unfolding process for the three...7 A paradox about uniqueness8 Mass-housing with unique apartments9 A factory and its individual workspacesA few invariants of rooms that have been shaped by...1 What makes a good room?10 Tranquility even in the huge2 Position: How living process may be used to...3 Position: Starting with the most important room4 Position: The living room of the Medlock House5 The main centers of a room: internal elements...6 The main centers of the carpet gallery at the...7 Fine structure which determines the internal...8 Fine structure: the Berryessa staircase9 Tranquility1 The most decisive, most telling aspect2 Physical substance itself3 Microstructure of a building4 Microstructure as a necessary part of all...5 Mirrors of the self in every building detail6 Unfolding building details from the fundamental...7 For living elements like these, a new form of...8 A letter to the reader9 Some invariants which will emerge when the...1 A personal note10 Working on integrated wholes11 Matura as an example12 Wabi-to-sabi: the balance of rough and smooth13 Summary14 Morphological invariants created when making...2 Making3 Technical definition of “making”4 The most basic feature of living structure5 The technology of making6 The social philosophy of making7 The nearest tenth of an inch8 Detailed shape and size of capitals at...9 Money and contracts1 The search for new materials10 The paradigm of smooth unfolding as a target...11 Monocoque construction — new forms of hollow,...12 Concrete monocoque construction — a currently...13 Features of new building methods that are...2 Green materials and adaptation3 What matters is that we have techniques of...4 An innovation for village construction — stacked...5 Cheap and beautiful ways of forming concrete5A Wood and concrete combinations6 Heavy wood construction7 New forms of brick and block construction8 Sophisticated may mean advanced or it may mean...9 Smooth unfolding of construction1 How may we approach truly gigantic construction...10 Fabrication of luminous glass ceilings11 Extension of ultra-modern techniques to all...2 High-speed adaptive production: technical...3 Slowly created harmony in a massive project: the...4 The core of the solution: a combination of large...5 Adaptive design emerging within the whole6 The water-jet cutter7 Prefabrication of marble on fiberglass mats...8 Repetition and variation9 Human beings and technology: personal feeling...1 Ornament as products of unfolding10 In a living building, everything is ultimately...11 Everything is joyful ornament2 Ornament as detail which emerges directly from...3 Black-and-white marble floors and surfaces4 Making a colored, ornamented, floor5 Other kinds of ornament6 Hand-glazed tilework7 Making lifelike animals and plants in the fabric...8 Simplicity of ornamental human figures9 Structural qualities created by the fundamental...1 The unfolding which produces inner light2 The painted kitchen3 Paint and color materials4 The surprising nature of the color that unfolds5 The blue of the Kaiser house6 Another case of the surprising nature of color...7 How can it really be that color and design come...8 Color is so effortless9 Morphological invariants which appear as living...1 The link of human happiness with the environment10 Paintings and photographs of the blissful state11 Geometrical consequences: structural effects of...12 Conclusion2 Belonging and true comfort3 The fifteen properties4 Dependence of the blissful state of our...5 The sense of belonging6 More on the blissful state8 The true landscape of architecture9 Attaining the blissful state1 Emergence of an archetypal core2 A collection of examples3 Process and geometry: the origin of archetypal...4 Centers and symmetries5 The feeling-symmetry principle within these...6 The archetype underlying all7 Weak archetype, strong archetype8 A last remark1 Architecture as the continuation and completion...2 All urban building viewed as part of nature3 The world originating from its people4 Our birthright1 The unfolding of public space10 Summary of the effects11 Morphological features of public space created...2 Positive space3 How hulls of public space come naturally from...4 Shaped public space forming living centers5 The spine structure of the Eishin campus6 The hulls of public space for a community of...7 Shaping the hulls for part of a new town in...8 A new approach to urban space: first forming a...9 Implementation1 How large buildings may be created by the...10 Emergence of new multi-level contracts for...11 The intricacy of detail in a living process —...12 Conceptual vision of a still larger process13 Setting up a design management construction...14 Conclusion — Geometric features which follow...2 The Great Hall: a multitude of living centers3 Intimacy of design within the huge4 Mountain View Civic Center: differentiation of a...5 Tokyo Forum: unfolding of a massive building6 Eurostar7 Introduction to discussion of process for a...8 Even in the biggest building, people must be the...9 The contracting problem1 The all-important relationship between buildings...10 The most vital step in any building process11 Remember that each building exists mainly to...2 Every building is placed and shaped to form a...3 A lock-and-key process4 The Millennium Church5 Emergence of complex space and volume on a small...6 Building a five-story building in Tokyo to make...7 Laying out a very large building complex: the...7a Completion of design and construction of the...8 A secondary structure-enhancing process which...9 Emergence of building volumes in a more...1 Beauty of structure and positive space10 Each step uses the fundamental process to...11 Appropriate structural order for a large...12 Morphological invariants that are likely to...2 Interlocking elements of mass and elements of...3 Positive space and positive structure — a...4 The seeming miracle: why beauty of space and...5 Three-dimensional formation of positive and...6 The great hall at Eishin7 A new kind of engineering design process based...8 Using the fundamental process to get the design...9 Going on with the unfolding process for the...1 The partial, built shell that lets a garden grow10 Small and large centers contribute to unfolding11 Centers in your own garden, created by your...12 The wild and cultivated garden13 Splendor in ordinariness14 I don’t care kind of caring15 The structure likely to appear in gardens...2 A sequence of adaptive acts3 Thus the living aspect of gardens comes about,...4 It unfolds directly from people’s ordinary...5 A comment from the heart of zen6 The built support that natural gardens need7 Twenty percent of the construction money for...8 Positive space in gardens9 Preserve the structure of what is there1 A shared vision10 The vital need for a collective vision11 The archetypal character of the collective...12 Bologna13 The special character of each community created...2 The psychiatrists of Letterman Hospital3 Unfolding as a source of unanimity4 Start of a collective vision in Fort Lauderdale5 Design charettes6 A collective vision growing in Chikusadai7 The visionary process8 A collective vision achieved at Eishin9 We created: they created1 A growing city10 Yellow: growing the pedestrian hull11 Gray: Splitting lots and multiplication of...12 Green: the growth of positive green space13 Red: cars are given last place14 Overview of all four processes together15 Structure-preserving unfolding of the four-fold...16 Repairing blight17 Highly complex order — the key invariants in a...2 Addressing the problem of blight3 A new kind of zoning law, helping to generate...4 A profound contrast between two very different...5 The pattern of yellow, green, gray, and red6 What should be the pattern of yellow, green,...7 Making a start in the existing Progresso...8 Density interactions and the density threshold9 The key idea: within an optimum density...Part 1Part 2Author’s notePreface — IntroductionPreface — BackgroundPreface — The personalChanges in our idea of matterThat exists in me, and before me, and after meCosmologyA fusion of self and matterThe effort it took to get the stark geometry of...The strength of the present scientific...The weakness of the present world-pictureThe needs of architectureScientific efforts to build an improved...The continuing lack of a unifying cosmologyTen tacit assumptions which underlie our present...Inspiration for a future physicsThe confrontation of art and scienceIntroductionEmil Nolde's sunset and Paul Gauguin's cowA significantly large structureBeing modern and being trueThe childlikeThere is nothing greaterPure innocence and deep order — the message of St....Recapitulation of books 1 to 4 as "pleasing...Veronica's blue chairThe heart-stopping qualityThe thought policeNot pleasing yourselfA group of architecture students who were not...A Mexicali story about the thought policePleasing yourselfThis is GodSpirit made manifestThe practical results of this knowledgeA necessary state of mindThe world beyond a given thingNot-separatenessMaking a gift for GodThe face of GodIntroductionA new method of observation at the core of the...The nature of space and matterEnduring skepticism as a source of certaintyWholeness as a physical structure in the universeConsciousness as a physical feature of the...A modified physicsSummary of the modified physicsA new picture of the worldA physical basis for religious aweEssential aweAn extension of the scientific idea of what can be...IntroductionAn observationRelatednessA possible explanationA connection to the selfWhat of our modern works?More on the problem of our eraThe black plasterFootnoteA dewdropThe I of our experience originating with the I in...A HypothesisMobilizing the stormRelatednessThe mirror-of-the-self experimentsThe real relatedness existing underneath the skinThe ancient and eternal truth of the relatednessThe numinous experienceTrue meaning of relatednessA jump to speaking about the existence of an IAn experiment to determine the extension of the IIntroductionThe fundamental processThe difficulty of the taskInnocenceThe vision of Matisse and BonnardIn our own eraA new vision of building — making living structure...The life of the environmentConsider the possibility of viewing all living...The jewel net of IndraWhat it means for a center to be being-likeA corner of a farmer’s fieldA shipyardLooking at ChartresEach living center is a beingPure unityIntensifying shapeUnity achieved in a great blossomEmergence of a being from the field of centersBeings in arches, spaces, and columns: the example...Emergence of the archesDetailed design of the structural columnsA wallCatching a being in colorThe haunting melodyIntroductionThe possibility of a coherent verifiable theoryThe argument from verifiable detailsThe argument from coherenceThe unity that speaks of IThe faintly glowing quality which can be seen in a...A psychological explanationPossible existence of a single underlying...The blazing oneWhat, then, is a center?Though a strange model, it provides a viable...Which I-hypothesis is true?A non-material view of matterIntroduction: A direct glimpse of the ISequence of linked color pairsBoundaries and hairlinesFamilies of colorColor variationIntensity and clarity of individual colorsSubdued brillianceColor depends on geometryColor and the field of centersInner light as a glimpse of the I which lies...The hint of a transcendent unityColor as an essential feature of realityTranscendent wholeness as a kind of lightConclusionInner lightThe unfolding which produces inner lightThe eleven color propertiesHierarchy of colorsColors create light togetherContrast of dark and lightMutual embeddingWhy unity and sadness are connectedSadnessGetting sadness in the flesh of the buildingSadness of color and geometryUnity and sadness in a group of buildingsUnity and sadness of life in a back yardThe groundConcluding sectionIntroductionDo not ask for whom the bell tollsThe impact of making beauty on the maker's lifeThe healing processMaking wholeness heals the makerLife made creates life in the makerThe source of the healing effectHuman growth: the movement of the self towards its...Towards full knowledge of the self which can arise...Drawing sadness from your most vulnerable selfBook 4 — Part 1Beauty in codeBeyond cognitionBeyond preserving natural life towards creating itBook 2 Cliff NotesBook 3 Cliff NotesBook 4 cliff notesBoundariesBuilding is an essential order-creation processCan we talk about “feeling”…?CenterCenters and designCenters help one anotherCharacter vs. featuresComparisonsConsequences of the mechanistic viewContemporary architecture avoids the 15 propertiesContrastCreating lifeCultural variation of wholenessDeep interlock and ambiguity🛠 Development tools for this digital gardenWhere software and architecture are differentDigital GardenDigital gardening is a living processEach center has its lifeEchoesEleatic philosophersEmergence of this new form of observation from...Experiments in our timeFeeling as the inward aspect of lifeFeeling life15 fundamental propertiesFreedom and loss of freedomFreedom of the spiritBinary vs. gradual perspectives — from boundaries...From ecology to a broader conception of lifeFunction arising out of ornamentFunction vs. ornamentFunctional Completeness And ErgodicityGeneral and repurposable toolsGeometry in musicGeometry in softwareGood shapeGradientsGrowing a LISP with structure-preserving...Growing this siteHelpful foundational ideasHow a chisel worksHow a living room worksHow centers work togetherHow does the world have its effect on us?Human feeling is 90% the same across peopleDichotomy between process and structureIn software we avoid requiring proper order in a...Increasing the number and speed of iteration by...Ideas inspired by The Nature of OrderInspiring threads from Unfold ChatInterplay of the propertiesAn introduction to The Nature of OrderJudgement and the pursuit of architectureKey concepts in The Nature of OrderLearning to recognize and apply the 15 propertiesLevels of scaleLife and imperfectionLife as an attribute of space and matterLife and living structureLiking something from the heartLocal symmetriesLoosing the sense of true connectionMake God appear in the middle of a fieldMaps of MatterMath and programmingMathematical and physical existence of centersMechanical-rationalist world viewMechanism vs. harmonyMechanization in architecture and softwareMetaphorical structure in the two arches exampleMetaphors we believe byNot-separatenessNowObjective vs. subjective — a new worldviewOntology as grammarOrder is difficult to describeOrderOrdinary realityOrnament and functionSuccessively adding detail — over-specification...Interactive places discussing Christopher...Pluralist view of valuePositive spaceProject ObjectivesRecursion and towers of abstractionRecursive definition of a centerRoughnessRules for identifying centersSearch for real beautySeeing centersSend a program, not a data structureSeparation from realityShared understanding is needed to have meaningful...Simplicity and inner calmSpace itself carries the attribute of lifeStrong centersStructure of the booksSymmetry and recursion as repetition1. What is true, is only the body of those facts...10. The instinct that there is some kind of deeper...2. Matters of value in architecture are...3. Modern conceptions of human liberty require...4. The basic matter of the world is neutral with...5. Matter and mind, the objective outer world and...6. Art is an intense and powerful social...7. Ornament and function in a building are...8. At a profound level, architecture is...9. The intuition that something profound is...Techniques of measurementTelegram GroupThe appeal to shared experienceThe Architecture of ComplexityThe awakening of spaceThe concept of living structureThe core of the new method of observationThe expanding and contracting of our humanityThe fundamental processThe hypothesis of Denis DiderotThe Long Path that Leads from the Making of Our...The mirror of the selfThe recursive character of lifeThe relation to DescartesThe stress reservoirThe unity of ornament and functionThe voidThrow out all functional explanations in your mind...TodoTop-down vs. bottom-up — whole vs. partsUnfolding a LISPUnfolding the Nature of OrderWhat does it mean for something to be personal?Wholeness and feelingWholeness and real likingWholeness changes over timeWholeness in physicsWholenessWhy 15 fundamental properties?Why do the 15 properties occur in nature?