“As a woman, I'm expected to want everything to be nice and to be nice myself. A very English thing. I don't design nice buildings - I don't like them. I like architecture to have some raw, vital, earthy quality.”

“Zaha Hadid's Maxxi Museum is proof that Rome and contemporary architecture are no longer a paradox. The building is characteristic Hadid - with curving lines and organic shapes - and the permanent collection already boasts works by Francesco Clemente, William Kentridge, and Gerhard Richter.”

“It's very important that historic cities are allowed to reinvent their future.”

“I really believe in the idea of the future.”

“Good education is so important. We do need to look at the way people are taught. It not just about qualifications to get a job. It's about being educated.”

“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.”

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

“If I wanted to do clothes or if I wanted to make a building or design a choreography, you are able to do that - they are all under a similar kind of design umbrella.”

“All the privileged can travel, see different worlds; not everyone can. I think it is important for people to have an interesting locale nearby.”

“Architecture is particularly difficult for women; there's no reason for it to be. I don't want to blame men or society, but I think it was for a long time, the clients were men, the building industry is all male.”