For our latest installment of the Proust Questionnaire, Dutch architect and co-founder of UNStudio, Caroline Bos, remarks on Dutch directness, the land artist Andy Goldsworthy, and the fact that UNStudio has surprisingly, yet to contribute to the New York skyline!

We have previously included Ben van Berkel, fellow founder of UNStudio, in our series here.

Who is your favorite living architect?

Herman Hertzberger; his life, works, teachings and writings have always been of their time, and always other-focused

Who is your favorite dead architect?

Zaha Hadid, I admire her pioneering and indomitable spirit very much

How would you describe the personality of your practice?

Optimistic, driven, health-aware (in many ways)

What is your practice's main weakness?

Maybe the fluidity that we love (in the intent of our work, I mean primarily, not per se in its formal organization) makes it sometimes difficult for the outside world to ascribe a clear identity to who we are

What is the trait that you appreciate most in a building?

A combination of intrigue and harmony

What is the trait that you deplore most in a building?

Depressive materials, a cold sensation, dark where it should not be

What is the trait that you most appreciate in an architect?

Being fascinating

What is the trait that you most deplore in an architect?

Taking the easy way out (which we all do sometimes)

What is your favorite type of project to work on?

A project that everyone who is involved in believes will be a game-changer

What does architectural happiness mean?

A great team, enough hours in the day, true value is being recognized

What does architectural misery mean?

Loss of control; it is scary when you lose your direction, when for one reason or another you can't seem to get adequate (does not have to be perfect) grip on the project outcome

Where would you most like to build (where you haven't already)?

New York (we did design the New Amsterdam Pavilion there, but I would love to work on a large-scale project in this city)

What is your favorite color?

It changes

What is your favorite flower?

Wild meadow flowers

What is your favorite bird?

Swallows, for their playfulness

Who is your favorite poet?

Lucille Clifton

Who is your favorite artist?

Andy Goldsworthy; his work appeals on so many levels: visceral, intellectual, ethic, narrative...

When do you lie?

If anything, I am too honest in that direct way we Dutch people have. Of course I will sometimes lie socially, but I should practice it more.

What talent would you most like to have?

All the talents I don't have and would like to have (ranging from musical and artistic to organizational and business) seem to luckily have landed on the people around me

What architectural strategies do you most overuse?

I honestly don't think we overuse any particular strategies; we prioritize flexibility and diversity over almost everything

How would you like to die?

Without ego