Nature of Order Webinar: Ross Chapin, Architect and Author, Positive Space

This session will be on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 16:00 UTC. Write to natureoforder@buildingbeauty.org to be included.

Positive Space is a fundamental principle in cultivating life within architectural design, encompassing buildings, outdoor spaces, structural geometry, and details. Ross Chapin will explore this concept through examples of his work, including Thomas Berry Hall, Aldermarsh House, and Greenwood Avenue Cottages. The talk will delve into the concept of a 'choreography' of movement, revealing how interlocking positive spaces can create meaningful and dynamic architectural experiences.

Ross Chapin

Ross is an architect and author based on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, who has been deeply influenced by Chris Alexander's design principles since encountering early manuscripts of A Pattern Language. Early in his career, he worked closely with craftsman builders on custom homes, retreat centers, commercial buildings, and public spaces in his local community. In the mid-1990s, Chapin helped draft zoning codes enabling cottage court building clusters and partnered in developing seven "pocket neighborhoods" in the region.

Since then, he has collaborated with developers nationwide on projects ranging from small cottage clusters to comprehensive mixed-use neighborhoods. His acclaimed book, Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small Scale Community in a Large Scale World, continues to inspire policy makers, developers, architects, and community housing advocates. Currently, Chapin is focusing on neuro-inclusive design, multi-generational community development, and innovative approaches to housing affordability.

Thomas Berry Hall, Whidbey Island Institute, Arch. Ross Chapin