I need a close contact to the client, whoever it is, and a commitment of the client to go out and do a process together. I want to do the best for him. I need his respect and his patience. I want to work with a sophisticated person who's interested in a good building and not in my name.

I've said goodbye to the overworked notion that architecture has to save the world.

There was a time when I experienced architecture without thinking about it.

Architecture to me is whole. I cannot say I only care about this 25% and the other 75% I let go... it's just I want to work the way I want to work. In my shop, you can order certain things and other things you cannot. They are not available.

If, early on, you know how things are put together, then you can build. The architect is in charge of making - he is not an artist.

I think the chance of finding beauty is higher if you don't work on it directly. Beauty in architecture is driven by practicality. This is what you learn from studying the old townscapes of the Swiss farmers.

I think space, architectural space, is my thing. It's not about facade, elevation, making image, making money. My passion is creating space.