photos: Robert Rieger

I was considering it when I was going to the Cooper Union in New York School of Science and Art. I will always remember my mother said, “look, if you're an architect, you can always be an artist, but if you're an artist, you cannot be an architect”. 

Absolutely right. But that's what makes it great art, that it has all these limitations. 

From within, I genuinely feel that since childhood, I felt compelled to create. I always drew buildings and landscapes, all of which are essential parts of architecture, of course. 

Of course, I had great mentors when I went to college, like John Hejduk, Peter Eisenman and Richard Meier. I have studied and continue to explore the works of all the great masters of architecture. With a degree in history, my passion extends to the Renaissance period and the wonders of ancient Greece and Egypt. I’ve also been inspired by the contribution of Frank Lloyd Wright to modern architecture, and, of course, my great friend Aldo Rossi. So, I've been very fortunate.   

I think they would recognize both the complexity within simplicity and the simplicity within complexity. 

Yes, I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing furniture, ancient books that I collect and all sorts of beautiful items. I’m grateful that I'm able to indulge in life's little luxuries.

Inspiration is always unexpected. It always tends to come in moments you haven't planned for. You must be on the lookout for the unexpected; otherwise, you might miss it! 

I have my eyeglass frames, which are often identified with me. I have a few pairs, but I particularly appreciate Ken Okuyama's designs. I very much like Japanese-made designs. 

No, no. You must remove yourself from the equation to design something great and true to the task, whether it's a building, a study plan, or an object. You just can’t be thinking about yourself - that's the truth. 

Well, in 2017, I purchased a black dial TYPE 1 in London. I searched for one all over the United States and I couldn't find any. So, when I found one in Piccadilly, I was delighted.  What drew me to watch is its unique approach. It's like architecture, a watch is a common object, yet this watch possesses a spirit — a sort of spiritual creativity, uniqueness and individuality. That's how I fell in love with Ressence and that's why I searched for it.  It was my introduction to the brand, and I still wear it today. 

I love this watch! It's an amazing one. I mean, I'm addicted to it. It’s brilliant. It’s a watch I instantly connected with. Benoît, the founder and designer at Ressence is an exceptional creative. I love the shade of blue to start with. To me, it is the distillation of the brand design in its purest form. I’m fascinated by its dynamic motion, its curvature and every detail. It is really like a piece of architecture on your wrist. 

What fascinates me is that you can’t see the disks moving immediately. It quite literally takes time. That’s the beauty of select architecture; it has a mystery to it which you may not see immediately. There is something that awakens in the viewer or the user - the sense of wonderment and mystery. It is incredibly comfortable to wear – with its dome like structure. I can instantly tell the time. Its clarity is refreshing, especially when you're tired and travelling and you just need an instant connection to your watch. 

When I showed it to my family and friends, they were amazed. In fact, a lot of people ask about this watch and can’t recommend it enough.

Oh, I'm so excited about so much! I'm currently working on a museum in Dubai. I’m also involved with another spectacular project in France, an ancient building in Jerusalem and a whole city plan in Finland. There is also a housing complex for the New York City public housing, which I hope will highlight the idea that affordable housing can also be beautiful.