People say I design architectural icons. If I design a building and it becomes an icon, that's ok.

I really love Miami, but I don't think the architecture matches the city. It's a bit too commercial.

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

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

Architecture is particularly difficult for women; there's no reason for it to be. I don't want to blame men or society, but I think it was for a long time, the clients were men, the building industry is all male.

For many years, I hated nature. As a student, I refused to put a plant anywhere - a living plant, that is. Dead plants were OK.

Contrary to popular view, I've never been patronized in the Middle East. Men maybe treat women differently, but they do not treat them with disrespect. They don't hate women. It's a very different kind of mentality.