PatternRecommended
The Fire
Pattern 181Description
Provide a real fire (fireplace, wood stove, or gas fire feature) in the common areas. The fire is the historical anchor of family gathering.
Why this exists
Even today, families cluster around fires. A house without one lacks an obvious gathering anchor.
Categories
Aesthetic
Source
Christopher Alexanderno manifest entry
A Pattern Language (1977 (Oxford University Press))
Section: Pattern 181
Published 1977-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-09
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Long Thin House · Pattern 109
- Staircase as a Stage · Pattern 133
- Zen View · Pattern 134
- Tapestry of Light and Dark · Pattern 135
- Sequence of Sitting Spaces · Pattern 142
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.