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https://doi.org/10.24306/TrAESOP.2026.02.003Published
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yodan Y. Rofé
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Urban complexity, Urban Design Theory, Natural Philosophy, Building Process, pattern languageAbstract
This paper explores Christopher Alexander’s theory of architecture and urban planning through the lens of time and timelessness. In so doing it traces his development from early systems thinking to his later metaphysical conception of living structure. It situates his work within the context of 20th-century urban thought and highlights his critique of mechanistic planning in favour of adaptive, participatory, and generated structures. Central to Alexander’s philosophy is the belief that beauty arises through processes which unfold over time; thereby aligning built form with human experience. By contrasting traditional and modern approaches to urbanism, the paper affirms Alexander’s enduring relevance and calls for a renewed commitment to environments that grow over time with life, memory, and meaning.
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