Patterns are fundamental to human perception and recognition. They are visible as edges and detectable through our senses. Nature uses patterns to solve design challenges by minimizing use of material and optimizing spatial relationships. Flows emanate from events or origins and have direction, volume, and other properties. Patterns reveal these flows and the movement of energy through different media. Common natural patterns include meanders, spirals, branching networks, cracking and packing arrangements, explosions, and the Fibonacci sequence.

1. Pattern
UnderstandingA Template for
Observation, Design &
Connection
& The Origins of Form

2. Patterns are familiar or recognizable, predictable,
repeating / rhythmic memorable FORMS.
Patterns are visible as EDGES.
Patterns are detectable by our
senses & intuitively.
Patterns reflect body-centered
holistic knowledge.
Pattern Recognition is
fundamental to human ecologic
success & the core of
Permaculture design.
Pattern Recognition is a linking
discipline that applies
equally to geography, biology,
music, art, astronomy, physics,
economics, physiology,
technology, etc, etc.

3. Patterns, Patterns Everywhere
• Points & Streamlines
• Meanders & Waves
• Lobes
• Spirals
• Branching / Dendritic
• Cracking, Stacking & Packing
• Explosions & Scatter Patterns, Radii

4. …especially this pattern:
We are “Hard-wired” for Pattern…

6. Nature Uses Pattern to Solve Design Challenges

7. Use pattern, not
more material,
to add strength

8. Nature uses Pattern
to solve Spatial Relationships

9. EDGES mark BOUNDARIES
between media or systems

10. Branching: Access by Proximity

11. Branches: for
collection and
distribution

12. Patterns show the movement of ENERGY
through MEDIA.
Patterns reveal FLOWS, emanating
from EVENTS (or ORIGINS).
Flows have magnitude, or patterns
that occur in ORDERS.
ORDERS reveal levels of scale.

14. At Edges:
• stresses
arise
• flows are
interrupted
• particles
accumulate
• resources
of 2 (or more)
systems are
available
• unique
niches occur

16. Pentagonal and
Hexagonal Cells:
Patterns of Packing and
Cracking

19. Packing and
cracking: nets

20. Patterns of packing
in bubble films:

21. What does the tortoise know?

22. acking & Stacking

23. The Fabric
of Life is a
Matrix or
Mosaic of
Tessellated
(Tiled)
Patterns in
Oscillation

24. Surface is expensive.
Nature will minimize it.

26. CRENELLATED edges enrich
productive potential.

27. Optimizing Edge

28. Waves

30. Patterns reveal FLOWS, emanating
from EVENTS (or ORIGINS)…
Flow is accelerated along edges (Venturi or sheer effect).

31. Meanders in Fluvial Geomorphology
Tortuous Meanders

33. - Lobes
- Scatter patterns

34. Lobes: increased
edge for transfer
across surfaces

35. Lobes solve spatial relationships

36. Lobes in
Landscape
Design

39. Explosions &
Scatter Patterns

40. Radial

42. Spirals: patterns of growth,
flow and form

43. Flows have properties:
1. Direction
2. Volume, order,
magnitude
3. Velocity, viscosity
4. Duration,
5. Periodicity
6. Overlaps &
interactions
7. Significance

44. Flows come
together, forming
NODES which we
can learn
to see as:
1. INDICATORS
2. ANOMALIES
3. PARADOXES
4. ATTRACTORS

45. Von Karmann trails

47. The Overbeck Jet

50. ls, Waves, and Vortexes Everywh

55. Vortexes for Moving Fluids

57. Spiraling for
optimum light

58. Fractal
Geometry

62. The Fibonacci Sequence
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 . . .
1/1 = 1.0
1/2 = 0.5
2/3 = 0.667
5/8 = 0.625
8/13 = 0.615
13/21 = 0.619
The ratio of further pairs
approaches 0.618034 . . .
THE GOLDEN MEAN

63. Fibonacci and Spirals

64. Fractals &
Fibonacci
Spirals

65. A common number pattern in nature

69. Augment, deflect, or
complex flow at the
edge using barriers,
nets, filters, or
funnels to direct or
harvest animals,
plant, soil, water,
wind, money, or
influence.
Place accumulators
(of mulch, nutrient,
seed, light, heat, or
moisture in
landscapes, or
information in social
systems.
Design Strategies to get a yield from Boundary Stresses:

70. Edge stresses are diffused across media by wind, water, radiation,
reflection, & conduction (e.g. alley cropping & chinampas).
Place a translator between media, disciplines, cultures, ages
(bees, seacoast harvesters, merchants, fencing).

71. Trees can compress the streamline 20 – 40 times the height of the tree

75. Patterns represent RELATIONSHIP
and reveal the DYNAMICS of PLACE,
based on flows & recurring events.

84. Luneate Patterns
Flows have properties:
1. Direction
2. Volume, order, magnitude
3. Velocity, viscosity
4. Duration,
5. Periodicity
6. Overlaps & interactions
7. Significance

91. Non-Spatial
Patterns:
Behavior & Ritual