Beauty Unfolding

The brilliant British-American architect, Christopher Alexander believed that, by defining the wisdom of how incremental decisions can be intentionally made, architectural space might unfold that feels alive, vital, allowing others to create spaces that feel alive in a Natural Order. It was with that intention that he developed the concept of a pattern language , one that had a profound impact on software development and laid an important foundation for the Agile movement.

He came to discover, however, that these pattern languages were not enough. While they might be followed, the feeling of being alive did not necessarily flow, that which allows Esomorphic Regeneration. Something deeper needed to be understood.

So he set about to explore what he called the foundational properties of vitality that, when present, allowed beauty to unfold. He defined fifteen.

We distilled them to three, three that could unfold the fifteen: 'wholeness', 'goodness', and 'delight' so that we might be guided each and every moment in our intention to cultivate beauty, in an Emergent Whitespace.

We intentionally create with beauty in our mind's eye to guide us. Paying attention, seeking wholeness that fulfills our originating intention and then honing to goodness, a feeling of internal elegance.

From there we step back and gaze upon our creation, wondering about its potential to delight our future self or others. Only when we are confident of this potential do we let our creation go, hoping that it will inspire a larger unfolding.