I grew up in a few houses because my dad was a builder, so we used to build and sell quite a lot.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
My dad designed houses and was an architect for many years.
I came to architecture from building. Because my father was a builder, everybody was - and is - a builder in my family.
My father was very much a handy person round the house, and I learnt a lot of carpentry from him.
I own buildings. I'm a builder; I know how to build. Nobody can build like I can build. Nobody. And the builders in New York will tell you that. I build the best product. And my name helps a lot.
I got a bit enamoured with bigger houses and things like that.
My dad worked all sorts of jobs when I was growing up and finally ended up as a surveyor; my mum delivers meals to old folk around where we live. We didn't have much money when I was growing up, but I had a very happy childhood.
I didn't grow up in a house - we moved a lot, and we always lived in apartments. But we looked a lot; we went to open houses almost every weekend. I think that's why I always wanted a house.
My father worked two jobs. He assembled speakers during the day, and then he sold real estate at night and on weekends. And then he eventually, when he was in his mid-50s, became a full-time real estate salesman.
I'm a product of public housing. My parents grew up poor, but their dream was to own a home.
I got into this little habit of architecture and building. I designed a house in Colorado and one in Hawaii. The idea is supposed to be build and sell - but then I can never bring myself to sell them.