Los Angeles-based architect Michael Maltzan grew up on Long Island in Levittown, the prototypical suburb. “It was an incredible place to be a kid,” he said. Today, Maltzan is design principal of Michael Maltzan Architecture, which has been commissioned to design a wide range of projects from the Skid Row Housing Trust’s New Carver Apartments to the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory building. Below, Maltzan answers our In The Green Room Q&A.

Q. What was the last habit you tried to kick?

A. Getting out of shape.

Q. Who was your childhood hero?

A. Any of the astronauts.

Q. What do you consider to be the greatest simple pleasure?

A. Not having an obligation.

Q. Where would we find you at 10 a.m. on a typical Saturday?

A. Trying to convince my kids that we should go to a museum.

Q. What do you wish you had the nerve to do?

A. Say no more.

Q. What is your favorite word?

A. Optimism.

Q. What is your favorite cocktail?

A. Martini. Very dry, three olives, shaken.

Q. Whose talent would you like to have?

A. Anybody who can sing.

Q. If you could take only one more journey, where would you go?

A. If I wasn’t so claustrophobic, I would love to go to outer space. But given that that’s off the table, I’ve wanted to get to India for a long time.

Q. Who is the one person living or dead you would most like to meet for dinner?

A. Borromini, the architect.

To read about Maltzan’s talk, click here.

*Photo by Aaron Salcido.