Lagos was the ultimate dysfunctional city - but actually, in terms of all the initiatives and ingenuity, it mobilised an incredibly beautiful, almost utopian landscape of independence and agency.

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

Talk about beauty and you get boring answers, but talk about ugliness and things get interesting.

The beauty of my profession [architecture] lies in its randomness and surprise. And don't think I can choose my projects. I have to build what's offered to me.

Architecture is a dangerous mix of power and importance.

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.

Our office acts like a kind of educational establishment and we are very careful who we educate.