On the discomfort of deciding

The newest competition is slowly taking form. We have decided on the general urban-form principles, distributed the spaces in a reasonable way, and have got the circulation system so that it almost works. However, I think that this one will not win: the spark is missing. There is no bright idea, no cliffhanger, no unique sales point. It's just another perfectly adequate building, yawn.

What's worse: there was a bright and sparky alternative, a real big-brass-balls proposal. We debated between the two for several hours (honestly) yesterday, and I talked the other one down because I thought it was too risky: a real Ugly Duckling of a scheme. I felt that there was a very strong chance that it would be eliminated in the first round with a cry of "dear God, what's that?". Thanks to me, we have chosen a project which is likely to get through to the last round, but is not likely to arouse the mad passionate "must-have" lust that makes a winner. Mark this down for an Honourable Mention, and colour me sorry.

Group dynamics are a strange thing. Here is how decisions get made: G poses the question "which version do we take?" and nobody breathes. After a few minutes of silence, I say that the big-brass-balls version is a better building but a weaker sell, and the attitude is taken up gratefully. I really wonder, if I had said that the BBB was a hard sell but worth it, would we now be working just as happily on that?

The world expects me to be a Chief, but I'm happier being just one of the Indians.

On a lighter note: we finished the evening yesterday with a glass of Sekt on the balcony, watching the setting sun dye the clouds in fantastic colours. U brought out the glasses, and noticed that one was dusty. She raised it to her lips and blew hard into the glass - and then looked up at us. The look of horror on her face as she realized what she had done, and that we had seen her do it, was priceless.