Because the underlying geometries are incompatible, the modernist anti-fractal attitude is antithetical to ecological thinking. The mind establishes a connection with the environment by processing information. Pavements play a role in connecting human beings to surrounding structures by acting as a vehicle for conveying meaning. The design on pavements transfers meaning from our surroundings to our awareness. A quantitative model for computing the organized complexity of arrays containing different symbols is applied to measure the degree to which people connect with a design.
Patterns encapsulate information about recurring design solutions and human activities.
Techniques for linking observed patterns validate a pattern language, and dismiss stylistic rules as arbitrary. Combining patterns on urban interfaces defines a new kind of livable region. The theory of complex systems is applied to urban design. Coherence in city form comes from assembling components using intense local couplings together with long-range connections that reduce disorder. The method allows inhabitants of a particular neighborhood to participate in planning their own environment.