What is a responsibility?
In 1985, serious security problems were discovered in Oxford University’s 350-year old auditorium.
After inspection, the 20 beams of the auditorium have rotted and need to be replaced immediately. Each beam is made of huge oak, which must be replaced in order to preserve the hall’s 350-year history. In 1985, it was no longer easy, or possible, to find 20 giant oak trees, but each one would have cost at least $250,000. It baffled Oxford.
At this time, the campus horticulture institute reported that 350 years ago, the architects of the great hall had already considered the difficulties that would be faced by future generations. In those years, they asked horticulturists to plant a large number of oak trees on the land of the school.
At this time, the campus gardening institute reported that 350 years ago, the architects of the auditorium had already considered the difficulties that future generations would face. In the same year, the gardeners were asked to plant a large number of oak trees on the school land. Today, each oak tree is much bigger than the beam it needs.
Such an awing and respectable news! The architects had the heart and vision 350 years ago. Even though their graves have long been deserted, but the architects’ responsibilities have not yet ended.
Now, what kind of revelation can such a story give us? You can relate to a series of words-sustainable, resource, long-term, environment, but these are too weak. It is possible that only one force will last, and that is called “responsibility”.
Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqH4eWR7jDQ
什麼叫做責任
1985年，人們發現，牛津大學有著350年歷史的大禮堂出現了嚴重的安全問題。
經檢查，大禮堂的20根橫樑已經風化腐朽，需要立刻更換。每一根橫樑都是由巨大的橡木製成的，而為了保持大禮堂350年來的歷史風貌，必須只能用橡木更換。在1985年那個年代，要找到20棵巨大的橡樹已經不容易，或者有可能找到，但每一根橡木也許將花費至少25萬美元。這令牛津大學一籌莫展。
這時，校園園藝所來報告，350年前，大禮堂的建築師早已考慮到後人會面臨的困境，當年就請園藝工人在學校的土地上種植了一大批橡樹，如今，每一棵橡樹的尺寸都已遠遠超過了橫樑的需要。
這真是一個讓人肅然起敬的消息！一名建築師350年前就有的用心和遠見。建築師的墓園早已荒蕪，但建築師的職責還沒有結束。
如今，這樣一個故事能給我們什麼啟示呢？盡可以去聯想一系列的詞彙——可持續，資源，長久，環境，但這些都顯太弱。可能，只有一種力量會持續，那就叫“責任”。
