  o identify the qualities that make small, European towns and homes so inviting and comfortable, Christopher Alexander and a group of architects went there to study the architecture. Their research lead to identifying many architectural elements that contribute toward making places "feel good". They organized these elements into "patterns" and wrote what we think is one of the most important architecture books of all time; "A Pattern Language". Their simple but profound observations identify the subtle elements that give places "soul."
We were fortunate to learn about Alexander's work early in our careers and integrate this philosophy into every home we design. Once you have lived in a home designed with these sensitivities, it would be difficult to settle for less.
Read some examples of patterns below and on the next page. If you enjoy these ideas, you might enjoy reading the book. A Pattern Language is actually quite academic and includes more than patterns for homes. Another book, Patterns of Home, written by Jacobson and several of the architects who worked with Alexander, goes into detail about ten of the most important patterns for the design of homes. This book has many large color photographs and would be our recommendation for your introduction to this design approach. Follow the BOOKSTORE link on the left to our bookstore at Amazon.com to learn more about these books and others.
PATTERNS
There is no way to incorporate every pattern into any one structure, but becoming aware of them, you can choose which ones are most important to  you for your own home.
Examples from the book, A Pattern Language:
The Hearth—
There is no substitute for fire, says Alexander. Place the fireplace or wood stove in a common space, perhaps in the kitchen, where it provides a natural focus for talk, dreams and thought.
The Entry—
Alexander says that the placement of the main entrance is very important and should be seen immediately from the main access direction. The main entrance should be bold, inviting visitors to explore what lies inside.
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