Nobody should be anything, but because I once had a different profession and I'm interested in writing, I took it upon me.

There are essentially two possibilities. One is to be, shall we say, an average architect and do the same thing everywhere. The other is to let yourself be inspired and even changed by the unique qualities of the place where you're building. We always try to take the second approach.

Criticism per se does not worry me. I've always solicited it as part of the design process.

Influence is a very unpleasant subject and I deal with it in a maybe irresponsible way, which is to really ignore it. It would be a nightmare if we started to really think about it; it would tie our hands, it would tie everyone elses hands.

Nigeria was a blank on the map - there weren't even any maps. The US State Department, everyone said don't go there. It was courageous of Harvard University: the notion was that we would match Harvard students with Nigerian students, so that every student would have a guide, creating a guarantee of intimacy with the city.

I like fashion, whether or not it's overpriced, because it creates a sense of the sublime with relatively few means.

The acceptance of certain realities doesn't preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.