PatternRecommended
The Shape of Indoor Space
Pattern 191Description
Avoid awkwardly-shaped rooms (long L-shapes, narrow rectangles, irregular polygons). Aim for rooms that are roughly square or modestly rectangular (1:1 to 1:1.5 aspect ratio).
Why this exists
Awkward shapes are unfurnishable; the shape itself dictates a single bad furniture arrangement.
Categories
Aesthetic
Source
Christopher Alexanderno manifest entry
A Pattern Language (1977 (Oxford University Press))
Section: Pattern 191
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.