Thom Mayne Quotes

Architecture is involved with the world, but at the same time it has a certain autonomy. This autonomy cannot be explained in terms of traditional logic because the most interesting parts of the work are non-verbal. They operate within the terms of the work, like any art.

Thom Mayne



But I absolutely believe that architecture is a social activity that has to do with some sort of communication or places of interaction, and that to change the environment is to change behaviour.

Thom Mayne



Descriptions of my work depress me. They make me feel pinned down.

Thom Mayne



For me the meaning of my work is much more fluid.

Thom Mayne



I'm often called an old-fashioned modernist. But the modernists had the absurd idea that architecture could heal the world. That's impossible. And today nobody expects architects to have these grand visions any more.

Thom Mayne



I've been such an outsider my whole life.

Thom Mayne



I've learned that in order to achieve what I wanted, it made more sense to negotiate than to defend the autonomy of my work by pounding my fist on the table.

Thom Mayne