歷史上的設(shè)計(jì)多是依據(jù)以往經(jīng)驗(yàn)的積累進(jìn)行，自20世紀(jì)初，許多西方設(shè)計(jì)師不滿足于以經(jīng)驗(yàn)為基礎(chǔ)的設(shè)計(jì)方式，開始研究建立在理性和科學(xué)分析基礎(chǔ)上的設(shè)計(jì)方法，理性的設(shè)計(jì)傾向也在20世紀(jì)60、70年代有進(jìn)一步的發(fā)展，這以后許多設(shè)計(jì)學(xué)科都從藝術(shù)走向了藝術(shù)與科學(xué)的結(jié)合，風(fēng)景園林也從之前的作為創(chuàng)造和保存人類居住環(huán)境和自然景色的美的藝術(shù)，成長為有關(guān)土地的分析、規(guī)劃、設(shè)計(jì)、管理，以及保護(hù)和恢復(fù)的藝術(shù)和科學(xué)。

有關(guān)設(shè)計(jì)方法的科學(xué)研究成果更是層出不窮。1977年，美國建筑師和理論家亞歷山大出版了一本影響很大的書《A Pattern Language-Towns·Buildings·Construction》，中文版于 2002年出版，譯名為《建筑模式語言》。書中亞歷山大以尺度從大到小排列，提供了253個有關(guān)城鎮(zhèn)、鄰里、住宅、花園、房間等模式，對每一種模式都定性、有時也定量地進(jìn)行了闡述，提供規(guī)劃和設(shè)計(jì)等方面的參考。亞歷山大希望通過這種模式語言，建立一整套完整的設(shè)計(jì)指導(dǎo)，使得設(shè)計(jì)者可以很快地把握不同場所良好設(shè)計(jì)的本質(zhì)，避免在設(shè)計(jì)中犯一些低級錯誤。

作為一本指導(dǎo)手冊，《建筑模式語言》對于初學(xué)者認(rèn)識和判斷設(shè)計(jì)的確有直接的幫助，對于非專業(yè)的人認(rèn)識了解城市和建筑設(shè)計(jì)，指導(dǎo)自己的住宅、家居和花園的設(shè)計(jì)也有很大益處。許多人曾經(jīng)人為，借助于模式語言，設(shè)計(jì)師可以利用前人的經(jīng)驗(yàn)和智慧，做出優(yōu)良的設(shè)計(jì)方案，達(dá)到事半功倍的效果。然而現(xiàn)實(shí)是，就像學(xué)習(xí)一門語言，了解和掌握了詞匯和語法并不意味著能夠隨心所欲地寫文章，更不一定能寫出好文章。亞歷山大的理論實(shí)際上是對場所的抽象化和簡單化，模式語言能幫助人們更準(zhǔn)確地判斷，可惜并沒有什么好的設(shè)計(jì)是依據(jù)他的模式語言理論完成的，即使他本人的設(shè)計(jì)也并不成功。看來設(shè)計(jì)絕不像數(shù)學(xué)一樣，通過定律定式就能推導(dǎo)出結(jié)果。一切設(shè)計(jì)都是有法無式的，亞歷山大提出的更應(yīng)是一種方法，而非一種模式。

“Pattern Language”在亞歷山大的書中是最關(guān)鍵的詞匯，中文版把它翻譯為“模式語言”，不知亞歷山大是否認(rèn)同，但中英文許多詞匯是沒法一一對應(yīng)的，考慮到書的內(nèi)容，翻譯成“模式語言”還是比較恰當(dāng)?shù)摹?/p>

以我的觀點(diǎn)，什么東西一旦成為“式”，就更容易分類、更容易識別、更容易判斷，似乎也更加容易進(jìn)行科學(xué)分析和研究，但卻往往會成為藝術(shù)的大忌，同樣也是設(shè)計(jì)的大忌，因?yàn)樵O(shè)計(jì)學(xué)科多是藝術(shù)與科學(xué)的結(jié)合?！笆健笨梢允沟贸鯇W(xué)者更好地掌握，可以使得非專業(yè)人員更好地理解，然而卻經(jīng)常會帶來設(shè)計(jì)的教條和僵化。我以為，在設(shè)計(jì)中還是不要有什么“式”更好。我想西方優(yōu)秀的設(shè)計(jì)師也不希望有設(shè)計(jì)“pattern”，這或許就是亞歷山大的書在暢銷一段時間后現(xiàn)在少有人提及的原因。

本期的主題是景觀圖式語言，其中圖式語言對應(yīng)的英文詞匯是“Pattern Language”。我確信，如果把亞歷山大的書翻譯成“建筑圖式語言”，作者是不會認(rèn)同的，盡管他的書里有不少照片和插圖，但這些都與圖式?jīng)]有多大關(guān)系。

設(shè)計(jì)理論常常呈現(xiàn)出百家爭鳴的狀況，每一種理論在一個特定的條件下都有自己的邏輯體系，不能簡單地用對或者錯來評價設(shè)計(jì)領(lǐng)域的任何理論，我們更應(yīng)該研究每種理論產(chǎn)生的背景，以及研究者得出結(jié)論的針對性。本期有關(guān)景觀圖式語言研究的文章，都具有一定的研究性，相信讀者在閱讀后會有自己的思考和認(rèn)識。

2015年2月18 日

PREFACE

Most designs in history were conducted by experience.Since the 1900s, many western designers started to feel dissatisfied with such experiential-based design method and set about working on the establishment of a design approach built on rationality and scientifi c analysis. When it came to the 1960s and 1970s, rational design was further developed and later on many design disciplines were shifted from pure art to a combination of art and science. Landscape Architecture was therefore developed from an art of creating and preserving human settlement and natural beauty to the combination of art and science concerning the analysis, planning, design and management of lands.

The scientific research achievements of design methods are even more abundant. In 1977, architect and theorist Alexander published a book of far-reaching significance, A Pattern Language- Towns · Buildings ·Construction (The translated version was published in 2002 in China, named “建筑模式語言”), providing 253 design patterns concerning towns, neighborhoods,residences, gardens and rooms from large to small scales.Each pattern is explained qualitatively and sometimes quantitatively, and references for planning and design are also provided. Alexander wished to create a complete set of design guidance through such pattern language so that designers can comprehend the essence of different sites to avoid simple mistakes.

As a guidebook, A Pattern Language- Towns ·Buildings · Construction is indeed helpful to beginners to understand and estimate designs, and to those nonprofessionals to understand urban and architectural design and to direct the design of their own houses or gardens.Most people once believed that with pattern language,designers can make fi ne design proposals more effi ciently from the experience and wisdom of predecessors. Truth is, just as learning a language, mastering the vocabulary and grammar doesn’t mean one can writing an article at will, let alone a good piece of article. Alexander’s theory is in fact the abstraction and simplifi cation of sites. Yes, it is true that pattern language can help one to judge more accurately, but pitifully there were few good designs being done according to his theory, even his own designs were not always successful. It appears that design is not like math, mastering the laws or formulas can not deduce an expected result. Every design is of means but forms.What Alexander put forward is more a method rather than a pattern.

“Pattern Language” is the most pivotal phrase in Alexander’s works. In the Chinese publication, it is translated as “模式語言 ”. I am not sure if Alexander agreed such translation, but it is impractical to match every word between English and Chinese. Considering the content of the book, I think “模式語言 ” is appropriate.

From where I stand, I think that once something becomes a “pattern”, it becomes more easy to be classifi ed, understood, judged, analyzed and studied; but it also often becomes a taboo for art as well as design because design disciplines are mostly the combination of art and science. A “Pattern” is helpful to beginners and the non-professionals to understand, but it could lead to dogmatism and inflexibility in design. In my opinion, it is better to not include any “patterns” when designing.I think most outstanding designers from the west don’t want “pattern” in the process of design either. This might be the reason why there are few mentions of Alexander’s book after it was popular for a while.

The topic of this issue is landscape pattern language,among which the “pattern language” is translated as “圖式語言 ”. I am convinced that if Alexander’s works were translated into “建筑圖式語言”, he wouldn’t have been agreed, despite the fact that there are a lot of photos and illustrations in his book.

There always countless branches of theories for the fi eld of design, each of which is of its own logical system under certain circumstances. It is not suitable to judge any of the theories simply by rights and wrongs. Instead,we should study the background of every theory and the pertinence of its conclusion. In this issue, every piece of article concerning the research of landscape pattern language is of particular research value, I believe it is benefi cial to the establishment of your own thoughts and understandings in this area.