In the art world Robert Rauschenberg had been combining common materials that people thought was art and beautiful, and it was. If he could do that, I could emulate him.

Architecture and any art can transform a person, even save someone. It can for children - for anyone. It still does for me.

It's not new that architecture can profoundly affect a place, sometimes transform it.

I have always thought that L.A. is a motor city that developed linear downtowns.

My father was an urchin that lived in Hell's Kitchen. He was part of a family of nine. I mean, there were times that were better and worse, but mostly, by the time we got to L.A., they'd lost whatever they had. And it was a sad time. And both he and I became truck drivers for different companies.

Ninety percent of the buildings we live in and around aren't architecture. No, that's not right - 98 percent.

If you're serious about being an architect, you've got to learn how to take responsibility.