PatternRecommended
Thick Walls
Pattern 197Description
Treat exterior walls as a buildable thickness — niches, shelves, window seats, built-in seating — rather than 2D planes. Thick walls create useful interior surfaces.
Why this exists
A 6" thick wall is just structure; an 18-24" thick wall (plus interior depth) gives storage, seating, and privacy.
Categories
AestheticStructure
Source
Christopher Alexanderno manifest entry
A Pattern Language (1977 (Oxford University Press))
Section: Pattern 197
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.