Life, like architecture, often feels chaotic in the moment. But in the end, that’s what makes it beautiful.
I must speak honestly. These past couple weeks of the Plymouth Park Pavilion design process have felt chaotic. Moments of breakthrough and joy have been coupled with moments of defeat and frustration. Just when it seems like we are on the cusp of finalizing a design, we go back to square one and hit the drawing board once again. Teamwork has had its ups and downs. However, I believe that every second spent in the chaos of this process will culminate in the best pavilion design this studio could’ve produced.
Ultimately, I am learning that this is the reality of architecture. It takes time. Lots of time. You’re never going to get it right the first time. Or the second. Or the third. It takes lots of hard work, both physically and mentally. It takes showing up and working as a team. It takes a willingness to humble yourself even when you think you have the best idea. It takes accepting criticism with an eagerness to learn from one another. It means choosing to encourage instead of tear down. It takes adjusting course again and again, and then again. It takes celebrating the successes and growing from the failures. Most importantly, it takes having a vision that drives you forward to the end goal, no matter the cost. At the end of a project, all of that chaos leads to something beautiful. Something to look back on and be proud of, knowing you gave your all to accomplish it.
Take a step back and think about all of that. Even if you’re reading this and you’re not an architect, doesn’t it still sound familiar? The more I thought about it, I began to realize that architecture is merely a reflection life. We’re not promised that life going is to be easy. In fact, its quite the opposite. Life is a rollercoaster, with all sorts of high and low points. And like a rollercoaster, it can feel chaotic at times! Life takes lots of hard work and even more time. It takes being there for others while also relying on them, because we can’t do it on our own. It takes humbling yourself, recognizing that you haven’t arrived yet. It takes making mistakes, learning from them, and trying again. It takes choosing to love despite the sacrifice it requires. It takes lots of adjustment. It takes appreciating the mountaintop experiences and using the valleys as opportunities to grow. And above all, it takes all-encompassing vision that gets us out of bed each day, driving us forward to the end goal.
We all need vision in our lives. Something that drives us forward. Something larger than ourselves. What keeps you going? What is that goal or prize that you’re willing to sacrifice everything in order to attain it? What do you see when you look back at the pages of your life story? In the Bible, the Apostle Paul writes these encouraging words:
I’m not saying that I have this all together, or that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. (Philippians 3:12-14 MSG)
Without vision, both architecture and life become impossible. The chaos will inevitably overcome and leave us defeated. Instead, like Paul, let’s forget the things that are holding us back in order to press on to the goal ahead, learning from failures and celebrating successes along the way. Let’s be humble, admitting that none of us are experts. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize and give everything we have to achieve it. Let’s let our vision drive us to excellence in everything we do. Oh, and let’s not forget to surround ourselves with likeminded individuals who we can lean on and support.
Finally, let’s embrace the chaos that will inevitably come along the way. When we look back, whether at our lives or simply an architecture project, I believe we can say with great confidence that the chaos was well worth the beauty that came from it.
