A Pattern Language

by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein · 1977

Christopher Alexander and collaborators' pattern-based language for buildings, towns, rooms, and human-scale design.

Recommended by 1 person

Why this author is included

Christopher Alexander · Architect and design theorist

Sara Ishikawa · Architect and author

Murray Silverstein · Architect and author

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Who recommends it

1 person has recommended A Pattern Language. Each entry links to the source.

Patrick CollisonCo-founder and CEO, Stripe

Patrick Collison marked A Pattern Language as particularly great on his official bookshelf.

Recommended · Wording not verified Source: Patrick Collison

Evidence details

Bookshelf

Collison's official bookshelf says the page is a physical-books catalog, not an overall list, but explains that books shown in green are titles he thought were particularly great.

This text documents what the source says, but it is not verified as a word-for-word quote.

Patrick Collison · mid 2026 note on page; original list kept for posterity · accessed 2026-06-21

Personal website · Personal bookshelf rating

The page says Collison flagged a few books he thought were particularly great in green. This row imports only green-marked titles and does not treat the full bookshelf as a recommendation list.

About the author

What the author has done, shown separately from who recommends the book.

Christopher AlexanderArchitect and design theorist

Lead author of A Pattern Language.

Sara IshikawaArchitect and author

Co-author of A Pattern Language.

Murray SilversteinArchitect and author

Co-author of A Pattern Language.

A Pattern Language

Who recommends it

About the author

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