Christopher Alexander was an architect who was concerned with the state of our modern buildings. He saw modern architecture as hideous and anti-human. In previous times, simple people who knew the area made beautiful buildings to work in sync with the people who used them. He thought something had gone horribly wrong with modern architecture.
He is an interesting thinker and this documentary is worth watching.
Here are a few notable quotes from Alexander:
“One of the very largest problems that is facing the earth is rarely mentioned and that is – the spread of ugliness… Architects are contributing to this.”
“Buildings can only be done right with slowness and care and only by people who know the vicinity.”
“How was it possible that any simple farmer can make a house, 1000 times more beautiful than all the struggling architects of the last 50 years could do?”
Aaron Olson 