H4around

H4around is a term used in geometry-inspired puzzle design and generative art to describe a configuration in which four identical elements are arranged around a central element in a symmetric, approximately circular pattern. The arrangement typically exhibits fourfold rotational symmetry and is defined by local adjacency rules that enforce spacing and alignment between the outer elements and the center.

The name combines the letter H with the numeral 4 and the word around to convey the idea of "four around." It emerged independently in online puzzle forums and generative-art circles during the mid-2010s as a convenient shorthand for a recurring cluster motif, rather than a single formal theory or standard.

Practitioners adapt H4around by substituting different outer shapes (circles, squares, polygons) and by adjusting angular offsets or tolerances to suit a given medium. In tiling and pattern design, H4around motifs serve as modular units that can be repeated or rotated to create larger symmetric fields. In algorithmic art, they provide a simple rule-set for generating balanced, visually stable compositions. The concept has been observed in puzzle collections and digital installations that explore symmetry, balance, and local-to-global structure.