Base120 · Composition
Pattern Composition (Tiling)
Combine repeating elements to construct complex structures efficiently
When to use
"Use when a complex structure can be built from repeating elements. Identify the tile (the repeating unit) and the rules for combining tiles. Efficient for constructing large structures from small components."
Example
"A honeycomb is built from hexagonal tiles. The hexagon is the optimal tile — it minimizes perimeter for a given area, which minimizes wax usage. The complexity of the hive emerges from the simplicity of the tile and the regularity of the tiling rule."
Common misuse
"Forcing a tiling pattern where the underlying structure is not regular. Tiling works when the problem has natural repetition; imposing tiling on an irregular problem creates awkward seams and edge cases."