湖边小屋：Alex讲述父亲的故事

Alex的父亲突然发病住进医院，虽然父子之间有很深的隔阂，但是依旧隔不断的是父子之间的深情。Alex向Kate讲起父亲的故事，包括父亲亲手建造了这栋湖边小屋，做为送给母亲的礼物。那个时候，父亲还没有成名。但是随着名气越来越大，父亲也越来越顾不上家庭，顾不上母亲，甚至都没有参加母亲的葬礼。

Alex来医院看望父亲，父子两人讨论着建筑的艺术……

Alex：There's something I never told you, Kate. You see, it was my father who built the lake house. I mean, with his own hands. And it was a long time ago, before he was famous...when he still had a family and worshipped my mother. Her name was Mary, and the house was a gift for her. She was smart and funny. She could have done anything, but chose to take care of my brother and I...and help him build his career. You see, the more successful he became, the more impossible he was to live with. Finally, she just couldn't take living with him anymore. She left him. Within a year, she got sick. Unfortunately, she never learned how to stop loving him. He wasn't at the funeral. When I asked him why....

Kate：Go on, Alex. What did he say?

Alex：He said, "She was dead to me the moment she stepped out of the house." And then he gave me one of his architect-of-the-year grins.

Alex：I hope you appreciate this. I had to sneak past three nurses and your Attending.

Alex'd Dad：Oh, jeez, it's hot. lt's not decaf, is it?

Alex：It should be, but it isn't.

Alex'd Dad：That's not bad. Thank you...son.

Alex：You're welcome.

Alex'd Dad：Where's your brother?

Alex：I sent him away. He wasn't feeling well. You know how he is, he worries.

Alex'd Dad：Yeah, I know. He gets that from your mother, I'm afraid. She always worried too much.

Alex：What are you looking at?

Alex'd Dad：Oh, yeah, here, take a gander. lt's a proposal for a museum.

Alex：Who is it?

Alex'd Dad：Someone new.

Alex：Oh, I like the walkways, where the light falls. What are the materials?

Alex'd Dad：Granite. Aluminum.

Alex：White panels are straight out of Meier...but the interior color coming through the front windows, that's different. It's not new, but it's clean, uncluttered. I like it.

Alex'd Dad：When was the last time you were in Barcelona?

Alex：Years ago, with you, Mom and Henry.

Alex'd Dad：Do you remember visiting Casa de la Caritat?

Alex：The almshouse.

Alex'd Dad：That's right. You mentioned Meier. His Barcelona museum stands in the same area as Casa de la Caritat. It drinks the same light. Meier designed a series of louvered skylights to capture that light...and cast it inward to illuminate the art within, but indirectly. And that was important, because although light enhances art...it can also degrade it. But you know all that already, you son of a gun. Now, this...where do you suppose this is to be built?

Alex：I have no idea.

Alex'd Dad：Oh, but you said you liked it.

Alex：Conceptually.

Alex'd Dad：Now, come on. You know as well as I do that the light in Barcelona...is quite different from the light in Tokyo. And the light in Tokyo is different from that in Prague. A truly great structure, one that is meant to stand the tests of time...never disregards its environment. An architect takes that into account. He knows that if he wants presence, he must consult with nature. He must be captivated by the light. Always the light. Always.

注释：

1. smart and funny：聪明又风趣。这两个词常用来形容人。

2. get sick：生病

3. take a gander：看一看

4. Meier：美国当代著名建筑师Richard Meier，代表作：巴塞罗那当代艺术博物馆

5. Casa de la Caritat：巴塞罗那的建筑“慈善之家”，这是西班牙语casa是房子的意思，La Caritat是爱之门的意思。

6. conceptually：adv. 概念地