I've always thought that design can have equal importance to the idea of internal architecture. Professionally, things can be very dogmatic - you do the architecture, someone else does the interiors, someone else does the furniture, the fabric, etc. But I think design is all-encompassing.

You have to really believe not only in yourself; you have to believe that the world is actually worth your sacrifices.

I made a decision when I was in school that I'd have a lot of male friends.

Education, housing and hospitals are the most important things for society.

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

Being Iraqi taught me to be very cautious.

It would be very interesting to design objects for everyday life, something where the ideas that are expressed can be launched into society.