The fact that the president (Michelle Bachelet) was out giving minute-to-minute reports a few hours after the quake in the middle of the night gives you an indication of their disaster response.

I build community. However, I do it wearing a number of hats.

Some of the best work that's happening right now is from architects who have remained in their home countries and who have focused on a local or national identity and the idea of critical regionalism.

Ego gets you inches but it doesn't get you impact.

Families want their child to get an education; families want safe access to healthcare; families want a roof over their head. When we silo issues, we end up with solutions that are in conflict with each other.

For me, I think the most exciting thing in architecture is the re-emergence of the locally-focused architect.

The Internet has created an incredible democratization of the architecture industry.