Building your own house is a primal urge, one of those universal genetic drives like the need to provide for your family.

I have a recurring nightmare that I wake up in a gutter with nothing. I've had it all my life. That's why I work, I think.

Generally speaking, I think that if you do anything with commitment and passion, it will come good.

Awesome is loud but awe is quiet.

I don't look at what people do with their homes in terms of money, but the social and personal value of what they're trying to do and achieve.

I'm not too fond of really cool design. I've got quite kitsch taste really, in things like tableware. I'm quite a sucker for 1930s pressed glass.

Architecture was pretty much the sexiest thing to be doing from 1700-1800.