Ballard Locks in Seattle is an architectural marvel and essential infrastructure. Ships and boats get raised and lowered between the calm waters of Lake Washington and the currents of the Puget Sound.
But wander a bit, as I have several times, and you notice more.
A lush garden, where picnickers lounge in the sun and take in the views.
A viewing gallery, where excited children and tourists press against the glass.
Below, a fish ladder — stone steps underwater guiding salmon back home, from the ocean to the lake, to complete a cycle older than the city itself.
They didn’t have to build these. But they chose to.
They didn’t stop at the practical. They didn’t just design with their mind. They also designed with their heart — to delight visitors, and with their soul — to care for the salmon.
The best things have all three woven through them. They work. They touch. They serve a higher spiritual calling.
The mind cleverly sustains life. The heart and soul make it worth living.
So much wow! It’s also a skill to appreciate the details.