Creating a form language for sorrento gardens

This paper describes a “Form Language” for gardens in and around Sorrento, Italy, produced by Building Beauty students 2017-2018. Form languages are complementary to pattern languages in describing a regional or local way of building in all its facets. They embody the building culture of a place, and both languages are at the basis of cultural landscapes. Our analysis of the gardens was part of our ongoing project to improve the garden of Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. Our aims were (1) to learn about local garden patterns for our own project (2) to learn the methods for researching and writing form languages. The Form Language consists of 42 form patterns organized into 9 categories according to levels of scale, and the rough sequence in which they will be considered during designing and building the garden. The Form Language provides exemplary solutions for general forms and configurations that would work, while allowing for adaptation and flexibility.