author : James Harris

Nature has always been an inspiration to architects, from Alberti and Palladio to Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. The discovery of fractal geometry in the last part of the twentieth century, along with the use of computers in design, opened mew doors in architecture’s quest to break nature’s creative code. It is now possible to model and create the organic forms of nature in ways never before available to human ingenuity. By creating buildings based on the organic patterns of fractal geometry, Harris shows, architects can design structures that evoke cognitive, emotional, and physical responses similar to nature’s forms, thereby inspiring positive associations.

in addition to fully explaining the aesthetic theory of organic design and its historical background, Fractal Architecture is a practical guide to generating fractal structures in architecture. Using an illustrated, step-by-step approach with many examples, Harris describes a clear methodology, using iteration and transformation, teaching the reader how to create building designs, facades, and ornamentation based on fractal geometry. A practical and historical resource for architects and designers, Harris’s groundbreaking book will also be valuable for readers intrigued by the intersections among science, art, and mathematics.