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.

From my first days studying architecture at the architectural association, I have always been interested in the concept of fragmentation and with ideas of abstraction and explosion, where we were de-constructing ideas of repetitiveness and mass production.

Indeed, our designs become more ambitious as we see the new possibilities created by the technology of other industries.

I miss aspects of being in the Arab world - the language - and there is a tranquility in these cities with great rivers. Whether it's Cairo or Baghdad, you sit there and you think, 'This river has flown here for thousands of years.' There are magical moments in these places.

The world is looking more and more segmented, the difference between people is becoming greater.

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

I always thought I was powerful, since I was a kid.