演讲历史上那些伟大的时刻：建筑师和鸡蛋的故事

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演讲历史上那些伟大的时刻：建筑师和鸡蛋的故事译者：xiaonicholas 原作者：ERIC ALBERTSON

In the early 1400s, Florence, Italy was a hotbed of artistic competition. There were cathedrals to be built, giant baptistery doors to be sculpted, and lots of artists wanting to get in on the action.  Up-and-coming sculptor and architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, was one of those artists. He had spent much of his life studying ancient Roman architecture and had entered his share of design competitions only to come in second to his more showy, but less qualified, peers.

  

15世纪初，意大利的佛罗伦萨城是一个艺术创作百家争鸣之地。许多艺术家都踊跃参与到建造教堂，雕塑巨型洗礼门等工程中来。雕塑家、建筑师菲利波·布鲁内莱斯基很有发展前途，也是这些积极参与工程建设的艺术家中的一员。他花了大量时间研究古罗马建筑，在历次设计比赛中位居第二。那些竞争对手们的设计方案显得非常花哨，但实用性却不强。

  

As a resident of Florence, Filippo lived in the shadow of the Santa Mariadel Fiore Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the world at that time.  Construction on the cathedral had begun in 1296, but after its original architect was unable to come up with a way to construct a dome over the cathedral’s massive nave, the building had remained unfinished for nearly a century.

  

菲利波是佛罗伦萨市民，他默默生活在圣母百花大教堂。该教堂是当时世界上最大的教堂，始建于1296年，但由于建筑师无法对教堂大圆顶殿封顶，工程被迫延期了近一个世纪。

  

In 1409, the group in charge of the construction of the cathedral asked Filppo’s opinion about how the dome (cupola) should be built.  He offered several ideas based on his studies of ancient Roman domes, but to his frustration, none of them were implemented.

  

1409年，负责建造教堂的委员会向菲利波征求关于穹顶（冲天炉）封顶的方案。于是菲利波开始对古罗马教堂穹顶进行研究，并在此基础上提供了几个想法，遗憾的是，所有的想法都未付诸实施。

  

Nine years later in 1418, the group announced that they were accepting new ideas for how to design the dome.  While at first the competition was only open to local artists, the group eventually opened it up artists all across Europe. Filippo submitted his name to be included and was eventually invited to participate.  He traveled to Rome to study ancient structures and worked out his design for the dome.

  

时间又过了九年，到了1418年，建设委员会宣布公开征集穹顶建造的新方案。设计大赛最初只允许本地的建筑师参加，但最后还是允许全欧洲所有建筑师参赛了。菲利波也提交了报名申请，委员会还邀请他参赛。他于是前往罗马研究古代建筑，并提交了一份大教堂穹顶的设计方案。

  

The day of the presentation arrived.  Master builders from all over Europe assembled in the unfinished cathedral.  Each architect presented his solution in turn.  Many ideas were presented.  One thought the dome should be made of “sponge stone” to keep the weight down.  Another suggested that they put a giant pillar in the middle.  Yet a third proposed that the dome be filled with earth mixed with money during the construction, and then once it was finished, that citizens be allowed to dig for the money, removing all of the dirt in the process.

  

答辩的时刻终于到来了。欧洲各地的参赛建筑师纷纷来到这座尚未完工的大教堂。与会的建筑师们依次陈述了自己的设计方案，提出了很多的想法。一种方案建议使用海绵石建造穹顶以减小穹顶自身重量。另一方案建议在教堂中竖立一根巨型支柱。第三种方案建议用混有钱币的泥土填充穹顶，完工后允许市民挖去钱币，从而除去建造过程中的污垢。

  

Filippo was last to present.  He was confident that he alone, based on his knowledge of ancient methods of dome creation and study of the Gothic techniques, had the answer. He verbally described his solution: a dome within a dome, octagonal in shape, capped by a lantern to let in light, all of which would be constructed without scaffolding.  They were astonished by his claim and demanded to see his model.  Fearing that the other architects would steal his design, or that (even worse) his design might be given to someone else to build, Filippo flatly refused.

  

菲利波是最后一个做答辩陈述的。他相信只有他的方案才真正地靠谱。这源于他对穹顶建造古法的了解，以及对哥特式技术的研究。他口头描述了他的设计方案：在穹顶内嵌入一个八角形穹顶，上面开个天窗以保持光线充足，所有过程无须要一个脚手架。评委和建筑师们对他十分肯定的语气感到非常惊讶，要求他把模型拿出来看一看。考虑到其他建筑师可能剽窃他的想法，或者（更糟糕的是）委员们看了他的设计后另找他人建造，菲利波断然拒绝了展示模型的要求。

  

Filippo then issued a challenge, saying that the commission to build the dome should be given to the man who could make an egg stand on end, as that man would have the skills required for the job.  After the various architects tried in vain to accomplish it, Filippo took an egg, whacked it on its end and then placed it on the table where it stood upright and did not fall over.

  

菲利波随后出了个难题，他说：谁能把鸡蛋立起来，谁就有能力建造穹顶，那么委员会就应该把任务委派给他。有几个建筑师试了试，均以失败告终。这时菲利波拿起一个鸡蛋，敲碎底端，稳稳地将鸡蛋竖立在桌子上！

  

The other architects protested that they could have done that, too, to which Filippo replied that they could have built the dome, too, had they seen his model.  Impressed, the judges awarded Filippo the commission to construct the dome.

  

其他建筑师抗议道，我们也能做到！菲利波回答道，假如你们看了我的模型，你们也能做到！评委们被菲利波的表现说服了，他们把建造穹顶的任务委托给了他。

  

The dome was completed in 16 years and is the largest dome ever created with bricks and masonry.  It has been credited as an inspiration for St. Peter’s dome, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and even the Capitol Dome in Washington, D.C., and is a must-see destination for all those who visit Florence.

  

16年后，穹顶工程竣工。这个穹顶是有史以来最大的砖石结构穹顶。圣彼得大教堂穹顶、伦敦的圣保罗天主教堂穹顶、以及华盛顿特区的国会大厦穹顶的设计灵感都来源于圣母百花大教堂。如今，所有的佛罗伦萨城游客都会前来参观这座教堂。

  

Do you operate in a competitive environment?  Have your great ideas not gotten the chance they deserve?  Do you need to stand out from the crowd in order to be heard?  Sometimes it takes a little extra effort to push a great idea through the cloud of politics and jealousy into the light for everyone to see.

  

如今您是否也处于一个竞争激烈的环境中呢？您拥有好的想法，却没有机会被别人采纳？您很想从普通人群中脱颖而出，让别人听见您的声音？有时候，您只需付出一点额外的努力，去拨开那些嫉妒和政治偏见的乌云，将您伟大的思想呈现在人人都能看见的阳光之下。

  

You can do that with your presentation.  Take a cue from a 15th Century architect and be bold!  Consider using a S.T.A.R. Moment™.  Make yourself memorable.  Take a risk.  Your idea (and possibly the world) will thank you for it.

  

您可以通过演示来实现这一点。按照这位15世纪建筑大师的做法，大胆表现您自己吧！使用明星时刻（S.T.A.R. Moment，Something They’ll Always Remember Moment，即演示过程中让听众永远难忘的时刻）演示方法，让别人加深对您的印象，试试看。当您成功之时，您的想法（也许整个世界）将会对您的明智之举感激不尽！

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