Introduction: Keys to Bill Hillier’s thought on architecture

An introduction recognising, tracking and summarising all the multiple strands of ideas developed by Bill Hillier over the course of 40 years would compete with the main aim of this book, which is to provide the reader with direct access to original papers. Significant effort would also be required to situate Hillier’s ideas within the context of the extensive and diverse bodies of literature to which he refers, or with which he is known to have engaged, at least by his students and close associates. Our first and more limited aim here is to identify key propositions and theses to help readers make their own maps and connections. This will be followed by brief comments on some of the threads and themes that run through the work.