Abstract
This paper discusses patterns' progress and their presence in architecture throughout the 20th century until today, traveling through its controversial opinions and identifying its meaning and importance. Through descriptive and critical analysis approaches, patterns' roles in contemporary architecture and the meanings they hold and deliver to the public are criticized. Finally, a critical review of how architects are dealing with patterns nowadays is carried out, discussing the effect of patterns on the quality of creativity in the architectural practice and the messages it delivers accordingly. (C) 2019 THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier BV on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University.