Hey, that was my idea

Okay, browsing some blogs tonight I came across this headline about an architecture firm winning the contract/design for an urban "something..." on behalf of U2. The firm's website describes this monument/tower/recording studio/apartment complex/retail center...well, you get the picture, or maybe you don't...actually, here's how they describe it:

"From the outset we concluded that an appropriate use dynamic for our proposal must be a residential tower, a hive of activity both day and night, with complementary shops, offices and restaurants in a clean modern podium base. Factors such as site orientation, maximum flexibility, and Masterplan aspirations regarding mixed usage and density levels determined a model akin to a 'Rubik's cube' or "tetris" block rotated around a pinwheel-like core, at once highly animated but with an underlying subtle order. The tower terminates with a new recording studio for U2, enclosed by panoramic views across Dublin and the surrounding region. Roof gardens sit on floating stepped platforms above, enclosed by the louvre screen from below."

When I got into the office this morning a small group of people were meeting to assess technical and creative possibilities for music and visuals in the sanctuary of the church we are going to purchase soon. We're trying to figure how to make the space highly functional and creative. After the initial meeting, I stumbed into a second meeting with Mike, our worship leader and creative guy and Don, our artist-in-residence. They were discussing plans for the recording studio that has been in the works for a couple of years. It was awesome to hear two passionate guys talk about what is happening and see a long-held dream coming to fruition.

And it caused to reflect on a series of meetings we had earlier in the month of August about our building and how we might think about using space. It is good to hear people talk out loud and say, "What if...?" I want a holistic space where people can gather and where anything is possible: sacred connection, expression, creativity, education, community, eating, sharing, helping; yes, even a third-floor deck off the back of the sanctuary from which to enjoy a sunset. It may take a long time to realize these kinds of dreams, but looking at that tower and reading about the scope of this project I realized that U2 is building a reality that comes from their dreams and their perceptions of how life ought to be. More power to them.