Awesome is loud but awe is quiet.

If you said to me, 'Lie down on that concrete floor and fall asleep,' I could do it. I can sleep anywhere at any time of day on any surface.

I spend a frightening amount of money on books.

Every decently-made object, from a house to a lamp post to a bridge, spoon or egg cup, is not just a piece of 'stuff' but a physical embodiment of human energy, testimony to the magical ability of our species to take raw materials and turn them into things of use, value and beauty.

The greatest architectural illusion is not Baroque fancy or Victorian flamboyant, but minimalism.

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.

As a property developer, I learned a long time ago to choose your battles wisely and that, unfortunately, compromise is a given.