Let me begin by saying I'm absolutely fascinated with the ideas being espoused in A Pattern Language. The decentralization of communities for self-government is something I've been advocating for quite some time. These patterns, setting up a guide for how to actually attain that goal, are very exciting. It's difficult to pick my 3 favorites, but here they are:
Pattern 3: City Country Fingers
As Dr. Headington showed us with his map of Tübingen, Germany, this pattern can be quite successful for improving quality of life of a town. Here's a map of Tübingen. As discussed in the pattern's description in the book, such "fingers" allow much more access to rural and wild land from the city. Rather than having to travel many miles from within the circular, ever-growing city to its outskirts, moving from a city finger to a country finger takes a small trip. Alexander recommends that city fingers stay at around 1 mile wide, so that only a short trip is necessary from the city to the country from any of the fingers. Local food can be easily transported in, city-dwellers can easily walk or bike to the country for holidays, relaxation, picnics, etc. This, to me, is the most important pattern so far.
Pattern 5: Lace of Country Streets
This pattern is very important to me because it is an adequate replacement for suburbs. I detested suburbs before, but after reading more about them in Kuntsler and Alexander, I can't imagine living in one. The idea of a badly-named, badly-planned community, miles from the city center and filled with rows of cookie-cutter houses with 3 or 4 floor plans to choose from just chills me to the bone. Now, I must admit that this pattern would be difficult to implement in the US, if for no other reason than that it goes against everything we are taught as part of "The American Dream." It would take some hard selling and experimental communities to convince Americans that this pattern makes sense. However, combined with city country fingers, these country streets on the boundary between city and country sound great.
Pattern 18: Network of Learning
My fiancee is an elementary school music teacher. I respect her for teaching our children, especially for teaching them the arts. However, the school system in this country is completely broken, and the way children are taught is abhorrent. Can you imagine, especially as a 4 or 5 year old (kindergartener), being told that you are no longer allowed to run around, scream, play, and imagine, but now you must stand in line, sit still, and be quiet? Granted, music class allows my fiancee to have fun with the children, but she still has to keep them calm. It's impossible to let a classroom of 20 to 30-something children run free. Alexander's ideas for learning, which involve a decentralized, free-form learning system that involves the community itself rather than a schoolhouse reminiscent of a factory building, sounds very helpful and realistic. Again, such a change would be very difficult to begin, but I believe it would be a great one indeed.
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