Architecture is about aging well, about precision and authenticity. There is much more to the success of a building than what you can see. I'm not suggesting that gestural architecture is always superficial, but solid reasoning has its place.

All clients think that they are architects.

I was brought up to reuse things.

What I do isn't radical. It's just distinct in small ways.

I remember, as a young architect, people always talked about I. M. Pei's concrete. He had a particular specification no one else knew.

I never like things that don't look nice. It's really that simple.

I'm not so interested in technology for technology's sake. I don't need incredibly sophisticated climate-control systems. And I'm absolutely amazed at the time people spend exchanging messages; I don't have a lot of time left over for those things.

I think when you look at architectural photography it doesn't help to have piles of old clothes lying on the floor. Architectural photography sets up an artifice.

To me, the nicest luxury would be to have a room where I could keep all my books in one place - and have space for more.

There isn't any one material that's mine. It all depends on the context. For example, I did a house that had the most exquisite marble applications. That sounds ostentatious, but it wasn't, given the context. The color white I subscribe to extensively. I love thinking about color, but I often go with white.