I hate the celebrity architect thing. I just do my work. The press comes up with this stuff and it sticks. I hate the word starchitect. Stuff like that comes from mean-spirited, untalented journalists. It's demeaning.

To sum up the state of architecture in America: ninety percent of the buildings we live in and around aren't architecture. No, that's not right - 98 percent.

The future of architecture is culture.

I call myself a traditionalist, although I have fought against tradition all my life.

Houston is undoubtedly my showcase city. I saved all my best buildings for Houston.

Faith? Haven't any. I'm not a nihilist or a relativist. I don't believe in anything but change. I'm a Heraclitean - you can't step in the same river twice.

There's no such thing as old age. I'm no different now than I was 50 years ago. I'm just having more fun.