What Makes a Village? Listening to Christopher Alexander

Villages evolve as semi-lattice structures, where functions overlap organically. A home may also be a workshop, a marketplace a social hub, and a temple a civic space. This interwoven complexity fosters resilience, adaptability, and deep social connections, making the village a living, evolving system rather than a static design.

A resort follows a rigid, tree-like hierarchy, where spaces are isolated by function—lodging, dining, and recreation remain separate, limiting organic overlap and social integration.

A village is not merely a collection of houses; it is a living structure that has evolved over time, shaped by the hands and footsteps of its people. Villages emerge organically, responding to their natural environment, social needs, and cultural traditions. They are dense with meaning and adaptation, rather than imposed from a master plan. In contrast to modern developments, where zoning laws, road layouts, and parceling dictate form, villages follow patterns that have stood the test of time. These patterns—rooted in geography, climate, and human interaction—ensure that a village is not just a place of residence, but a functioning, enduring system of life.

In Christopher Alexander's: A Pattern Language, he describes patterns that make settlements work: "Access to Water" (#25), "Activity Nodes" (#30), "Small Public Squares" (#61). These patterns are universal. Villages emerge where people gather around natural features—rivers, forests, fertile land—allowing them to sustain life harmoniously with the world around them. Unlike towns or cities, villages are not planned from a distance. They grow organically, shaped by daily habits, spiritual needs, and social bonds. Their success lies in their adaptability, human-scale design, and respect for the land.

A well-functioning village is an interconnected system, balancing individual autonomy with communal support. In traditional Indian villages, as described in his other book: The Determination of Components of an Indian Village, settlements are arranged in concentric zones of activity: the core serves as a marketplace and social hub, while homes, farmland, and forests radiate outward. This ensures that essential needs—food, water, shelter, and community—are met within walking distance, fostering self-sufficiency. These village structures mirror patterns seen in Balinese Subak systems, where rice terraces are organized around water temples that coordinate irrigation. The success of these villages lies not only in their physical design but in the rituals, customs, and shared governance that sustain them.
​
In contrast, many modern developments are dictated by economic efficiency and land division, breaking the deep, reciprocal relationship between people and place. When we ignore natural topography, hydrology, and social patterns, we create environments that are fragile, disconnected, and prone to failure—a stark difference from villages that have endured for centuries.

​The Difference Between a Village and a Resort

A resort may look like a village, but its essence is different. While a resort is crafted for escape, privacy, and seclusion, a village is inherently relational, built upon social bonds and shared experience. A resort is designed from the outside in—a static vision imposed upon the landscape—whereas a village grows organically from within, shaped by its inhabitants. Resorts often flatten the natural terrain, erase old pathways, and introduce structures that prioritize commerce over community. While a resort may foster temporary connection, it lacks the intricate layers of meaning, history, and adaptability that make a village truly alive.

What Makes a Resilient, Long-Lasting Village?

Resilience is not found in rigid masterplans but in patterns that foster flexibility and continuity. In Thailand, successful villages embrace water-oriented planning, recognizing the rhythm of the monsoon seasons. The pattern "Raised Walkways" (#36) ensures safe passage through flooded areas, while "Network of Paths and Cars" (#52) keeps transportation adaptable rather than rigid.

Resilient villages also honor modular growth—not through zoning laws, but through incremental expansion that respects existing social ties. Homes are built close enough for conversation but far enough for privacy. Workspaces blend seamlessly into the village fabric. The pattern "House Cluster" (#37) ensures people do not live in isolation but remain within reach of neighbors and shared spaces. This is in conflict for the design of a resort.
​
A critical element of resilience is land stewardship. In traditional Indian and Balinese villages, land is not treated as a commodity to be subdivided and sold, but as a shared resource managed through communal agreements and ecological principles. This is evident in the Subak system, where water management and land use are coordinated among villagers, ensuring that agriculture, housing, and social life exist in harmony rather than competition.

​How Can We Design New Villages That Endure?

If we seek to create new communities—ones that are both modern and rooted in wisdom—we must listen to the land, respect time-tested patterns, and allow places to grow rather than be imposed. A village is not a blueprint; it is a conversation between people and place, a living system that must be nurtured, not merely designed.

Designing successful new villages requires starting with the essential patterns of life. This means prioritizing shared spaces, ecological integration, and self-sufficiency rather than simply replicating architectural styles. One of the key failures of planned developments is that they often focus on aesthetics rather than the underlying social and environmental logic that makes villages successful.

A key element is gradual, participatory growth. Villages do not emerge overnight. They are built through layers of activity and adaptation, allowing inhabitants to shape them over time. A village should begin with a core of shared infrastructure—a market, a gathering space, a water source—around which homes and workspaces naturally cluster. As the community grows, expansion should be organic, following established paths rather than arbitrary zoning.

Successful villages maintain a balance between private and collective life. The best villages are not just about individual homes; they provide spaces for gathering, for work, for reflection, and for connection with nature. Traditional patterns like courtyards, shaded pathways, and communal kitchens ensure that human interaction remains at the heart of the village structure.
​
By respecting these time-tested patterns—rather than imposing rigid plans—we can create new villages that are not just livable, but resilient, enduring, and deeply connected to both the land and the people who inhabit them.