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GBE Patterns About

GBE Patterns About
About:

A Pattern Language

Pattern Template Format

Each pattern describes a problem that occurs many times in our built environment

For convenience and clarity, each pattern has the same format: as follows

Number and Title

Photo showing an archetypal example of the pattern

Each pattern has an introductory paragraph which sets the context of the pattern, by explaining how it helps to complete larger patterns.

÷÷÷

There are three diamonds to indicate the beginning of the problem

Headline in bold type gives the essence of the problem in one or two sentences.

After the heading comes the body of the problem. This is the longest section. It describes the empirical background of the pattern, the evidence for its validity, the range of different ways the pattern can be manifested in a building, and so on.

Then is the solution – the heart of the pattern – which describes the field of physical and social relationships which are required to solve the stated problem, in the stated context.

The solution is always stated as an instruction – so that you know exactly what you need to do, to build the pattern.

Each pattern describes the core of the solution to that problem in such a way that you can use the solution a million times and never do it the same way twice

A diagram showing the solution in the form of a diagram, with labels to indicate its main components.

÷÷÷

There are three diamonds, to show that the main body of the pattern is finished.

A paragraph which ties the pattern to all those other smaller patterns in the language, which are needed to complete the pattern, to embellish it, or to fill it out.

There are two essential purposes for this format.

First, to present each pattern connected to other patterns, so that you grasp the collection of 253 patterns as a whole, as a language, within which you can create an infinite variety of combinations.
Second to present the problem and the solution of each pattern in such a way that you can judge it for yourself, and modify it, without losing the essence that is central to it.

The patterns are ordered, beginning with the very largest, for regions and towns, then working down through neighbourhoods, clusters of buildings, buildings, rooms and alcoves, ending finally with details of construction.

This order, which is presented as a straight linear sequence, is essential to the way the language works.

Extracted from the book