Andrew Waugh: 'These are exciting important times for London'

What got you started?

Growing up in Milton Keynes and seeing the Pompidou for the first time when I was 11. It blew me away.

Who was your most inspiring tutor?

Sarah Wigglesworth. I argued with her relentlessly but never worked hard enough – and Sarah never quite gave up on me.

Which architect have you learnt the most from?

Buckminster Fuller.

Which living architect do you most admire?

Richard Rogers. That’s an easy one; for his rigour and his clarity.

What “great” architecture leaves you cold?

Starchitecture — a horrible word and terrible phenomenon. Branding over building.

What is your best project?

My home. I’m very happy here.

What project do you most regret losing?

I find it difficult to lose projects that we have designed after planning, and then to see them built by others.

What part of the design process do you most enjoy?

The very beginning is always the most exciting. I’m also enthralled by building sites — seeing the building coming out of the ground!

What is your Achilles’ heel?

My daughters.

Which house would you most like to live in?

Lautner’s Schaffer House. Or one of Charles Moore’s Sea Ranch houses. A timber house on the beach with a view of the Pacific.

What is your favourite city?

I’ve got a thing for San Francisco, the hills, the sea. It has a great energy.

You can work in any city at any point in history — where and when would you choose?

London right now, no doubt about that. We have some massive changes afoot. These are exciting important times for London.

What is the most important relationship of your working life?

Everyone who has ever worked in the practice.

Who is your favourite client?

My wife.

What would be your dream commission?

A fabulously well-funded timber research project.

What one piece of legislation would you introduce?

A proper climate change policy, one that includes embodied energy as part of a low carbon strategy.

What is your favourite architectural book?

Betjeman’s English Parish Churches. Surprised?

What is your favourite novel?

Can I have Under Milk Wood read aloud by Richard Burton?

What are you listening to?

Always Johnny Cash.

Complete the sentence: At heart I am a frustrated…

Carpenter.

What have you sacrificed for your career?

Carpentry.

What does your family think of your work?

I dare not ask.

Your child tells you they want to be an architect. What do you tell them?

Fantastic! You’ll be amazing!

Is it getting easier?

It gets better every day. Is it getting easier? No.