Architecture is unnecessarily difficult. It's very tough.

I love driving around east London - it's always full of surprises. Actually, I don't drive myself - I like to be driven.

You have to be very focused and work very hard, but it is not about working hard without knowing what your aim is!

I am quite sensitive to politics, because you know, as an Arab, an Iraqi, all your life, you are very conscious of it.

People often ask me if I consider myself to be an architect, fashion designer, or artist. I'm an architect. The paintings I've done are very important to me, but they were part of a process of thinking and developing.

I don't like the masculine style, jeans. I like issey miyake... and black dresses.

Know what it is that you are trying to find out.