“Repair what is broken, protect what is vulnerable, cherish what is beautiful and be a good steward of creation.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Emerson’s words sound so beautiful and simple, don’t they? Reading Emerson, as well as the most recent issue of Environmental Defense Fund magazine, reminds me of our role on earth as human beings.
I remember my teachers stressing that architects should have a good understanding of the humanities. To me, being involved with great groups like the Environmental Defense Fund is part of that obligation. The endeavor is knowledge-expanding and meditative, even when the subject is hard, heavy and distressing. I am convinced more than ever that great architecture can live up to Emerson’s beautifully expressed mission statement.
