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1995 Seattle
AIA Chapter Award |
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following is Henry's acceptance speech, addressing attendees at the
Honors Gala. "Six years ago Issac Bashevis Singer, the writer of wonderful stories in Yiddish based on his own experience, received a medal from the Mayor of New York. Tonight I feel (as he must have) when he said that he never sought after medals nor imagined having one; but since God made medals he must have intended that they be given to someone. I am very grateful to you for choosing me for this great honor. A large part of this medal belongs to my two partners, David Hall and Lowell Larsen, partners of twenty years, who lent their talent and knowledge of buildings to our enterprise; and old friends who inspired and helped when I practiced alone and needed help; and the many young people with new skills and fresh viewpoints who pitch in to make our work become reality. |
They
allowed me to hold and keep this simple notion of architecture as
the spaces we separate (capture) from the infinite space surrounding
us and then enclose: spaces that still retain all the various and
changing light, colors, textures, sounds and mysteries of the universe.
but because architecture is of human scale and dimensions, we can
bring these wonders home and make them felt by ordinary people of
all ages, backgrounds and stations in life. This simple gift of architecture to us gets me out of bed every morning, looking forward to the small discoveries the day may bring. I need not tell you that our profession has its ups and downs. When discouragement and disillusionment grip me in the future, as they will, I will pull out my medal from the top drawer in my desk to remind myself that there was a day, not so long ago, when my colleagues thought well enough of me and our work to honor me in this way. It will feel even better then than it does now. Thank you for this great honor." © The Henry Klein Partnership 
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