from itertools import chain, cycle, repeat

def make_spiral(side, elements=None):
    elements = iter(range(1, side ** 2 + 1)) if elements is None else elements
    matrix = [[None for _ in range(side)] for _ in range(side)]
    directions = cycle(((0, 1), (1, 0), (0, -1), (-1, 0)))
    steps = chain([side], *[repeat(x, 2) for x in range(side-1, 0, -1)])
    pos = 0, -1
    new_pos = lambda pos, d: tuple(sum(x) for x in zip(pos, d))
    for step in steps:
        direction = next(directions)
        for _ in range(step):
            pos = new_pos(pos, direction)
            matrix[pos[0]][pos[1]] = next(elements)
    return matrix

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print('\n'.join([''.join([f'{x:4}' for x in row]) for row in make_spiral(5)]))