My passion and great enjoyment for architecture, and the reason the older I get the more I enjoy it, is because I believe we - architects - can effect the quality of life of the people.

Form follows profit is the aesthetic principle of our times.

The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.

Everyone has the right to walk from one end of the city to the other in secure and beautiful spaces. Everybody has the right to go by public transport. Everybody has the right to an unhampered view down their street, not full of railings, signs and rubbish.

I believe very strongly, and have fought since many years ago - at least over 30 years ago - to get architecture not just within schools, but architecture talked about under history, geography, science, technology, art.

Architecture is a slow business, and city planning even slower.

Architecture is about public space held by buildings.

Cities are about juxtaposition.

Dyslexia, though, made me realise that people who say 'but you can't do that' aren't actually very important. I don't take 'no' too seriously.

I don't understand why everyone has to wear black, grey and white.

In Florence, classical buildings sit against medieval buildings. It's that contrast we like.

My mother was very family-oriented. And I do love being with my children.

Of course I know very little about architecture, and the older I get the less I know.

The gap between the rich and poor is widening fast.

There has to be policies about that, about what materials we use and so on.

There is a Jewish tradition of family, too, but then not all Italian or Jewish families are close.

This is a pivotal time for urban regeneration. We must take a long term view.

You know, the environment is fragmenting, and the environment is, in many places, absolutely hideous!

I think we did a pretty good role, linking, being a sounding board really and a driving force, especially from the bottom up. I think that part of this is bottom up as well as top down.

I think you could make a completely Virtual Centre, though I have a general feeling, and maybe because I am getting very old, that you still need face to face.