Italy is full of historical buildings. And Europe holds a great history of philosophy from Greece until today. I read all those books and see these buildings and I think of where I stand when I design my architecture.

So what we have tried to do in our later buildings is to try to be completely consistent as a painter is consistent or as a sculptor is consistent. Architecture also must be very consistent.

Even though I build buildings and I pursue my architecture I pursue it as an artist. I deliberately keep a tiny studio. I don't want to be an architectural firm. I want to remain an artist.

I have designed the most buildings of any living American architect.

In Los Angeles by the time you're 35 you're older than most of the buildings.

My buildings will be my legacy... they will speak for me long after I'm gone.

Buildings should serve people not the other way around.

My buildings don't speak in words but by means of their own spaciousness.

Nothing requires the architect's care more than the due proportions of buildings.

We build buildings which are terribly restless. And buildings don't go anywhere. They shouldn't be restless.

Architecture is a visual art and the buildings speak for themselves.

I hate vacations. If you can build buildings why sit on the beach?

Great buildings that move the spirit have always been rare. In every case they are unique poetic products of the heart.

We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first the doing their practical duty well: then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it.

We shape our buildings thereafter they shape us.