It's very important for cities all around the world to reinvent themselves, and Glasgow is a good example of that. The Scots are very nice. I don't think they are burdened by their history.

The idea for a building or an object can come up just as quick, but there is a big difference in process.

Half of architecture students are women, and you see respected, established female architects all the time.

I really believe in the idea of the future.

In Iraq, many of my female friends were architects and professionals with a lot of power during the 1980s while all the men were at war in Iran.

The commission process in America and England is different. In America, they do it through an interview process, and it's really based on whether they like you or not. I mean, it's nothing to do with whether you do the best scheme or the worst scheme.

I am equally proud of all of my architectural projects. It's always rewarding to see an ambitious design become reality.