The conservative values that are emerging, it may not effect architecture immediately but it will effect society and that's what worries me.

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.

I can't focus when there's too many things around. Whenever I used to go to the office, I used to always say, 'Tidy up.'

The current state of architecture and design requires extensive collaboration and an investigative attitude and we continue to research and develop new technologies.

Wherever I am in the world, my perfect day begins with waking up and heading to the beach or the pool or somewhere I can be semi-comatose. I just wake up and go to the sun.

Life in the Middle East is quite different from other places.

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