Harmony-Seeking Computation

A new form of computation that finds harmonious configurations by strengthening latent structures in a system while preserving the existing wholeness, applicable to buildings, towns, ecology, and natural systems.

Neighborhood — ranked by edge-count

Thinkers (1)

thinker

Christopher Alexander
introduces

Concepts (2)

concept

Wholeness
about
Alexander's core concept rejecting the idea that a whole consists of parts; instead, a whole makes its parts (called 'centers').
Latent Structures
gates
Hidden or underdeveloped structures existing 'between the lines' of a configuration that can be enhanced and developed through harmony-seeking computation.

Communities (1)

community

Fifteen Properties
implements

Claims (2)

claim

Close-knit adaptation of system elements arising over time is central observable in nature and human-formed ecological systems but eludes simple algorithmic formulation.
gates
Alexander's core assertion that subtle adaptive processes are too simple and common-sense-based for conventional computation but profoundly important.
Harmony-seeking computation is value-oriented rather than value-free, judging configurations by their contribution to larger wholes.
supports
Alexander's fundamental distinction between his framework and conventional computation, rejecting the premise that computation must be value-neutral.

Findings (5)

finding

Embryogenesis of a mouse foot demonstrates harmony-seeking through emergence of strong centers, boundaries, gradients, levels of scale, contrast, local symmetries, and good shape across four developmental days.
supports
Example demonstrating how latent structures in development are progressively consolidated and solidified through structure-preserving transformations.
Five-story apartment building in Tokyo complements site wholeness through 50 structure-preserving steps that accentuate Y-configuration, positive space, levels of scale, and sunny southern orientation.
supports
Architectural example of harmony-seeking computation as iterative process where each design step strengthens latent structural features of the site.
Giant wind turbines on Danish coast violate flat disc-like wholeness of landscape by introducing vertical structures with no relation to existing geometry, destroying rather than preserving structure.
contradicts
Counter-example illustrating algorithmic rather than harmony-seeking computation, where technological solution damages underlying landscape wholeness.
The city of Amsterdam evolved from U-shaped wall to horseshoe configuration of concentric canals, intensifying latent structure through boundaries, positive space, local symmetries, good shape, deep interlock, and alternating repetition.
supports
Large-scale urban example of harmony-seeking computation where latent wholeness is progressively realized across centuries.
Two hayricks placed on rolling Romanian field enhance natural wholeness through echoes of shape, local symmetries, and emphasis of naturally occurring strong centers.
supports
Example of humble, humble creative adaptation where placement respects and amplifies existing landscape structure.

Questions (1)

question

Can we define precisely what it means to take steps which intensify latent structure in a configuration so that harmony-seeking computation can be performed systematically?
gates
Central question animating the paper: whether the intuitive process of preserving and enhancing wholeness can be formalized and automated.

Conceptual bridges

2-hop · via this framework's ideas

Where ideas in this framework connect to the rest of the corpus — the same concept, an analogy, or a restatement elsewhere.

Wholeness
~Citta· buddhist

Related by similarity (8)

cosine ≥ 0.65 · no typed edge

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Harmony-Seeking Computationsconcept0.955
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