Examples of life-creating processes from our era

Obviously, I am not proposing that we go through life repeating this formula each time we do something, like blind idiots, just so that we can claim we are doing “a” living process. Nevertheless it is true that the processes required to make a living thing are, at some very deep level, always similar in their essentials.

Evolution of a set of drinking glasses: four steps showing a life-creating process extending over a few weeks

Throughout these steps, I did need to have the reality of centers in my mind while I was working. But I did not have to talk to myself in the jargon of centers to be successful. What actually happens in detail, in different projects, is unendingly varied.

Construction of a gateway leading to five low-cost houses in Mexico: another small example of a living process

Construction of an apartment building in downtown Tokyo

A variety of other processes, all similar in fundamental character

I rarely talk to myself explicitly about the centers — unless I feel I am going off the track and need to bring myself back on track.

Design for the interior courtyard of a civic center for the city of Mountain View, California

Construction of a visitors center in southern England

Deep down, it it true that in all these varied cases we really need to be occupied with the system of centers and with the feeling of the whole — always. But there is nothing formula-like about the actual activity itself. Each living process, for each new project, is fresh and new.

#book/The Nature of Order/3 A Vision of a Living World/Preface#