Being Alive / Self-Supporting Quality
Original term: Being Alive / Self-Supporting Quality | Chapter/location: 3 | Chapter start page in the English edition’s table of contents: 41
Definition and core idea
The quality of an environment and the quality of human experience are linked: the environment affects human presence and activity, and people in turn affect the life of the environment through use and care.
Explanation and elaboration
A place is not just a neutral container for behaviour. Layout, boundaries, light, access and the relation of spaces make some activities easier or harder. Conversely, users’ habits, events and care also change the character of a place. “Self-supporting” can be understood as a coherence that arises from inner relations, not complete independence from maintenance and resources.
Notes and limits of interpretation
Caution in attribution
From an architectural example alone one cannot conclude a general causal relation between the environment and wellbeing. Users’ experience, the social context, accessibility and time all matter.
Relations to other concepts
Review questions
- What problem does this concept clarify?
- Which part is Alexander’s explicit claim and which part is analytical interpretation?
- What observations or evidence are needed to assess it in a real environment?