Basil Al Bayati was born in the old quarter of the city of Baghdad and began his architectural studies there in the College of Engineering before opening his own practice in the late ‘60s. In the early ‘70s, he moved to London to continue his studies, first at University College London, where he studied planning, and then at the Architectural Association School of Architecture where he studied Architectural Psychology. After this, he continued his research into structural engineering at the Polytechnic of Central London. Later, after several years practicing in a variety of architects’ offices throughout London, he began researching art, architecture and archaeology at London University and became a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects as well as a number of other professional bodies. In the late ‘70s he opened his own practice in Knightsbridge, London. From here, he designed and built numerous projects in both the Middle East and Europe, fusing the magic of the East with the logic of the West. He has published a number of books on architecture as well as fiction and psychology and now continues to practice architecture based out of his centre in Malaga.