Archive for April 2008
A personal reflection on community
As an architect, I have a fair amount of experience presenting to communities. Sometimes this can be an exciting time to explain design – sometimes it is extremely hard to listen to peoples fears and emotions about change. Many times I have been in the uncomfortable position of being the target of peoples venting and accusations of bad intentions. Over the years, I have developed many responses that try to be respectful of these fears and yet represent my clients interests in moving a project forward. Often the best thing is to listen, acknowledge what I am hearing and in many cases – finding ways we can all work together.
Recently, as we have shown images of the model that “appear” more real – we have gotten many very strong comments about the design. We welcome the reactions. The point of this blog is to float ideas and inform the community of what is going on. However, as a design professional I must hold back the temptation to lecture or dismiss reactions as misinformed or misguided. The reality is even though a drawing may be abstract or a model may not show the whole image – if someone has a negative reaction – it is important to first listen, then to understand where the reaction is coming from and lastly we have to see if we can manage to find a way to work to make things better.
When I am working for a client, I have the ability to go home and walk away from the project – I do not live in the communities I work in. As the co-chair of the renovation Oversight committee – I am helping guide a design that is the community I have lived and prayed in for the past 15 years. I want to balance respectfully listening and being listened to.
For those of us on the committee we are working many hours and trying very hard to do the best for the Temple we love. The emotional attachment to our worship space is hard. Like any community there is difference of opinion – but please understand that all of us our doing this out of love of a love for our Jewish faith; a belief in the mission of the Temple and the importance community.
Please have patience – we will continue to listen – sometimes we will be able to incorporate ideas, sometimes it will not be possible. We are trying to create a space that all members of this congregation will be able to be comfortable in. In the end, the space is meaningless if the community becomes divided and angry or hurt – for me the first step is to take a deep breathe. On Friday night often Rabbi Kraus encourages us to take a breathe and step out of our weekly commotion and get our minds and bodies in a more spiritual Shabbat space. May I ask all of us – to do the same as we have an open dialogue about the design and try to be respectful of all points of view!
Design Development
The Board of Trustees approved motions allowing the Renovation to move forward. Invitations to contractors have been sent out, and we are on our way! The architects and the design team are working hard on the plan. Sound and lighting engineers have begun their work as well.
Keep looking out for new details as we begin to choose seating, lighting and other details that will add to the warmth of our holy space!
