The Process of Construction
Original term: The Process of Construction | Chapter/location: 23 | Chapter start page in the English edition’s table of contents: 455
Definition and core idea
The process of execution should not be merely a mechanical copy of an abstract picture; construction can respond to the real conditions of the place and to information revealed during the work.
Explanation and elaboration
On site, slope, light, materials, real dimensions, workmanship and discovered conditions can adjust detailed decisions. This can be read as a principle of feedback between design and construction, not an absolute abolition of the plan or model.
Notes and limits of interpretation
Caution in attribution
Building directly without drawings and technical control is not safe general advice. Drawings, calculations, permits, safety and quality control must be kept.
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?