Pattern Understandin

gA Template for

Observation, Design & Connection

& The Origins of Form

Patterns are familiar or recognizable, predictable, repeating / rhythmic memorable FORMS.

Patterns are visible as EDGES.

Patterns are detectable by oursenses & intuitively.

Patterns reflect body-centeredholistic knowledge.

Pattern Recognition is fundamental to human ecologicsuccess & the core of Permaculture design.

Pattern Recognition is a linkingdiscipline that appliesequally to geography, biology,music, art, astronomy, physics,economics, physiology, technology, etc, etc.

Patterns, Patterns Everywhere• Points & Streamlines• Meanders & Waves• Lobes • Spirals• Branching / Dendritic• Cracking, Stacking & Packing• Explosions & Scatter Patterns, Radii

…especially this pattern:We are “Hard-wired” for Pattern…

Nature Uses Pattern to Solve Design Challenges

Use pattern, not more material, to add strength

Nature uses Patternto solve Spatial Relationships

EDGES mark BOUNDARIESbetween media or systems

Branching: Access by Proximity

Branches: for collection and

distribution

Patterns show the movement of ENERGYthrough MEDIA.

Patterns reveal FLOWS, emanatingfrom EVENTS (or ORIGINS).

Flows have magnitude, or patternsthat occur in ORDERS.

ORDERS reveal levels of scale.

At Edges:• stresses arise• flows are interrupted• particles accumulate• resources of 2 (or more) systems are available• unique niches occur

Pentagonal and Hexagonal Cells:Patterns of Packing and Cracking

Packing and cracking: nets

Patterns of packing in bubble films:

What does the tortoise know?

Packing & Stacking

The Fabric of Life is a Matrix or Mosaic of Tessellated(Tiled) Patterns in Oscillation

Surface is expensive. Nature will minimize it.

CRENELLATED edges enrichproductive potential.

Optimizing Edge

Waves

Patterns reveal FLOWS, emanatingfrom EVENTS (or ORIGINS)…

Flow is accelerated along edges (Venturi or sheer effect).

Meanders in Fluvial Geomorphology

Tortuous Meanders

- Lobes- Scatter patterns

Lobes: increased edge for transfer across surfaces

Lobes solve spatial relationships

Lobes in Landscape

Design

Explosions &Scatter Patterns

Radial

Spirals: patterns of growth, flow and form

Flows have properties:1. Direction2. Volume, order,

magnitude3. Velocity, viscosity4. Duration,5. Periodicity6. Overlaps &

interactions7. Significance

Flows come together, formingNODES which we can learnto see as:

1. INDICATORS2. ANOMALIES3. PARADOXES4. ATTRACTORS

Von Karmann trails

The Overbeck Jet

Spirals, Waves, and Vortexes Everywhere

Vortexes for Moving Fluids

Spiraling for optimum light

Fractal Geometry

The Fibonacci Sequence0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 . . .

1/1 = 1.01/2 = 0.52/3 = 0.6675/8 = 0.6258/13 = 0.61513/21 = 0.619The ratio of further pairs approaches 0.618034 . . .THE GOLDEN MEAN

Fibonacci and Spirals

Fractals & Fibonacci

Spirals

A common number pattern in nature

Augment, deflect, or complex flow at the edge using barriers, nets, filters, or funnels to direct or harvest animals, plant, soil, water, wind, money, or influence.

Place accumulators (of mulch, nutrient, seed, light, heat, or moisture in landscapes, or information in social systems.

Design Strategies to get a yield from Boundary Stresses:

Edge stresses are diffused across media by wind, water, radiation, reflection, & conduction (e.g. alley cropping & chinampas).

Place a translator between media, disciplines, cultures, ages (bees, seacoast harvesters, merchants, fencing).

Trees can compress the streamline 20 – 40 times the height of the tree

Patterns represent RELATIONSHIPand reveal the DYNAMICS of PLACE, based on flows & recurring events.

Luneate Patterns

Flows have properties:1. Direction2. Volume, order, magnitude3. Velocity, viscosity4. Duration,5. Periodicity6. Overlaps & interactions7. Significance

Non-Spatial Patterns:Behavior & Ritual