When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. On top of that, I think about how people will approach the building and experience that space.

People tend not to use this word beauty because it's not intellectual - but there has to be an overlap between beauty and intellect.

If there is only one culture all over the world, that's not a good thing.

Working in Tokyo has convinced me that, contrary to what people think, it is actually one of the world's most beautiful cities.

You can't really say what is beautiful about a place, but the image of the place will remain vividly with you.

Look at London or Paris: they're both filthy. You don't get that in Tokyo. The proud residents look after their city.

All architecture has a public nature, I believe, so I would like to make a public space.