Pattern-driven design for small public spaces: An analysis of pattern books and toolboxes

Abstract

Urban spatial patterns that can enhance the city's cultural, social, environmental, material and structural performance advance beyond the old notions of design patterns by incorporating the digital design. Pattern books such as Alexander A Pattern Language are revisited and toolboxes /toolkits are used in contemporary urban designs by laboratories and offices. The aim of this paper is to analyze the particularities and congruencies between some systems of patterns, pattern books, toolboxes and toolkits aimed at small public spaces, also considering the context of digital culture. The methodology proposed is the construction of a taxonomy that relates and classifies these selected patterns, by these following steps: a) selecting of patterns applicable to small public spaces; b) classification of patterns by "type" (location, behavior, processes and design components) and by "driven designs" approach (data-driven design, performance-driven design, and material- driven design); c) making and inserting in the taxonomy platform a table of elements and connections; d) filtering by classes for analysis. From the results obtained in the visualizations, it is possible to consider a larger volume of "location" type patterns and a smaller volume in "processes" indicating a field that can be developed.