Pattern, agency and character.
Triptych’s long in use in exploration and explanation, some use long found in the dynamic equilibrium within these threes, relationships of one thing to a second qualified by a third, that makes available greater understanding of each thing alone, each as it relates to each of the others, and all three things together, such as is not available in diptych, with the stasis of its one sole relationship of a first thing to a second, such as is not available with any other polyptych, with the unwieldy complexity of its overlapping relationships of various constituent things. In the triptych is simplicity enough to be useful, and complexity enough to be useful too.
Here then is the triptych of pattern, agency and character, as tentative exploration and explanation of a proposed philosophical approach to the understanding and execution of architecture.
Pattern is a set of relationships. Agency is the ability to act. Character is particular quality.
The general, so interpretable, is in pattern. The specific, so meaningful, is in character. Between the two, gift meaning through interpretation, is agency.
In agency is freedom, in character identity, and in pattern coherence.
There is a type of pattern that precludes agency and denies character. It is closed and featureless. There is a type of character without pattern that pits agency against itself. It is chaotic and formless. There is a type of agency excluding character by imposition of pattern. It is remote and faceless.
There is also though a type of pattern that frees agency to create character. It is open and generous. There is a type of character within pattern that stimulates agency. It inspires and invites. There is a type of agency that would leverage and interact with the right kind of pattern to create its own particular character. It is valued, and it is priceless.
First published January '23
© MJ Ó Ruadháin 2025