Amanda Levete Q&A

The Stirling Prize-winning, pioneering architect Amanda Levete is a leading light in London's creative scene. Having recently dabbled in product design for Established & Sons, we took her to task over the hows, wheres and whys of her working life...

What was the first thing you thought about when you woke up this morning?

What to wear.

What do you wear to work?

If I’m just in the office then jeans, white shirt and bare feet. But today I have meetings to go to so I’m wearing a short black dress, thick black tights and high boots.

What do you have for breakfast?

Freshly squeezed juice, strong coffee with lots of hot milk and wholemeal toast with blueberries and lashings of maple syrup.

Do you read a newspaper/watch television/click online?

The Guardian, the Mirror and the Evening Standard but in reverse order.

How do you get to work?

I drive a black Audi A8 extra long wheel base. I’d prefer to walk but I live the other side of London.

What time do you first check your inbox?

When I get into the office at around 8.00am.

Where are your desk and chair from?

My desk is an all white customised version of a now defunct office system and my chair is the Aeron chair from Herman Miller.

If you could save only one item from your office/studio what would it be?

The small plastacine model of the subway station in Naples.

Do you listen to music whilst you work?

No, too distracting.

Where would your ideal lunch be and whom would it be with?

A long lunch at St Alban with my husband without having to go back to work afterwards.

Summarise in three words your work ethos?

Never give up.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Impatience.

What do you think is the most overrated virtue?

Patience.

Is there any single person that particularly inspires you?

My husband, Ben Evans.

Where do you feel most inspired?

When I’m running.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I have not achieved it yet.

How do you switch off?

By switching on by having sex.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

A dancer, then a scientist, then an artist, then I discovered architecture and that was it.

What excites you/terrifies you on a daily basis?

All the projects I’m working on.

Would you like to be your own assistant?

I wouldn’t want to be anyone’s assistant but I can imagine worse jobs than being mine.

Is there anything about retirement you look forward to?

I’ll not retire.

If you could choose to come back as person or thing, who or what would it be?

I’d be quite happy to come back as me, having learned from my mistakes.

14 February 2008 | Architecture