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

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

Being Iraqi taught me to be very cautious.

When I was growing up in Iraq, there was an unbroken belief in progress and a great sense of optimism. It was a moment of nation building.

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

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.

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