Choreographer/director Wayne McGregor on whippets, ammonites and Bangalore

My personal style signifiers are a cubic ring engraved with a black line that was designed by my partner and made by jewellery designer Sarah Herriot, and my contemporary black clothing by Boris Bidjan Saberi. These, worn with a pair of Rick Owens’ chunky, graphic black and white trainers, make up my uniform. borisbidjansaberi.com. sarahherriot.com. Similar trainers, £725; rickowens.eu

The best gift I’ve given recently was a set of three Korean pine-tree notebooks that I chose for a friend. They’re precious and tactile and I couldn’t pick one, so instead went for all three. I love stationery and discovered these at Magma, at a pop-up it did with the Korea Institute of Design Promotion. £5.99; 117-119 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1 (020-7242 9502; magma-shop.com)

And the best ones I’ve received recently are three Edmund de Waal ceramics: a small piece of porcelain with gold set in a little box; a shelf with a small pot on it given to me by the artist; and a tall, slender vase with a hint of blue that is pure perfection. They now live together as a family. edmunddewaal.com

The last thing I bought and loved was a pair of pyritised ammonites. They’re 120 million years old, come from the Ural Mountains and have a sculptural nautilus shape. Their proportions are perfect for my sitting room. Price on request; dalerogersammonite.com

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a Dymaxion Folding Globe. In 1946, Buckminster Fuller patented a map that presents geographical information without breaks in continental contours or distortion of their shape or size. Designer Brendan Ravenhill has reimagined it as a magnetic globe that’s beautiful, whether flat or a three-dimensional object. £17.50; areaware.eu

The best souvenirs I’ve brought home are photographs taken with my Leica D-Lux 7. One of the most interesting series I’ve shot recently was in Iran. The scenery was phenomenal – the expansive space, the mountains – and these images will be adapted into a stage design for the Royal Opera House. £995; leicastore-uk.co.uk

My style icon is the German industrial designer Dieter Rams. He’s elegant, and the things he makes are influential, rigorous and functional. His general philosophy is “less but better”, and this includes the way he dresses.

The last book I read was The White Book by Han Kang. It begins with a list of white things – rice, salt, snow – and transitions into a meditation on the life and death of the author’s newborn sister. I found it extremely powerful.

The grooming products I’m never without are Byredo Bal d’Afrique perfume with its subtle scents of African marigold and Moroccan cedarwood. I’m also a big fan of Crème de la Mer moisturiser and I’ve been using it for years. Byredo Bal d’Afrique, £105 for 50ml EDP; byredo.co.uk. Crème de la Mer moisturiser, £225 for 60ml; cremedelamer.co.uk

The last thing I added to my wardrobe was a black-and-white striped Haider Ackermann shirt. It’s strong, made of a fabric that falls beautifully on the body. I love Ackermann’s brave, often unusual clothing. haiderackermann.com

The last meal that truly impressed me was at abcV in New York. I’m a vegan and always on the hunt for places that offer plant-based, organic cooking. This Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant is very special – I had a delicious breakfast of einkorn pancakes, banana, pear, salted coconut butter and maple syrup. 38 East 19th St, New York, NY 10003 (+1212-475 5829; jean-georges.com)

My favourite websites are Maria Popova’s BrainPickings.org, where I learn about art, science and literature, and HereEast.com, a site devoted to the east-London tech, media and business campus that sprang up after the Olympics.

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Bangalore. I went on a British Council tour and visited the Parikrma Humanity Foundation. The foundation has a deep respect for the value of arts and culture and works with children aged five to 18 from four orphanages and 99 slums. I met extraordinary people there, and although the city is very polluted, the dense smog creates an unusual light.

The last music I downloaded was Shinichi Atobe’s Butterfly Effect. I love experimental electronic music and this piece is mysterious, visceral and otherworldly. It’s music to get lost to.

In my fridge you’ll always find hummus, tomatoes and Huel – or “human fuel”. It’s nutritionally complete food – full of greens and fibre – and it’s great for a quick breakfast or lunch if I am working and can’t have a heavy meal. It also has a minimal impact on animals and the environment, which is a plus for me. uk.huel.com

An indulgence I would never forgo is listening to the radio. I build time into my day – whether it’s first thing in the morning or while I’m walking to work – to listen to BBC Radio 4 and learn about the current state of political affairs. I get very tired of visual noise and find the radio to be powerful.

The things I would never part with are my dogs. I have two whippets – Freud, named after Lucian, and Mies, after Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – as well as Orez, a rescue dog. Possessions don’t mean very much to me, but these dogs are irreplaceable.

A recent “find” is the Swiss furniture brand Lehni, which produces beautiful aluminium shelving and benches and has a Donald Judd furniture collection that I love. Shelves, from SFr112, about £86; lehni.ch

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Agnes Martin. Her paintings – in pale colours – are meditative, peaceful and ever-unfolding. I particularly like the meticulously rendered, square-canvas Morning, from 1965. 

My favourite room in my house is my library, where I can be surrounded by books by brilliant people on a wide variety of topics. The space is light-filled and has my favourite Dieter Rams chair – it’s the perfect place to think things through. 

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose my sitting room. I buy literally everything online – from clothing to food, furniture and lighting. One of my favourite resources for designers like Yohji Yamamoto and Rick Owens is Atelier New York, and I like LN-CC for shoes and accessories. The Berlin-based Darklands is my go-to for edgier labels by European designers, and I also like Zeitlos – another Berlin brand that specialises in Bauhaus and midcentury furnishings. Lastly, Darklight Design is the place I buy Davide Groppi’s simple, yet stunning lights. ateliernewyork.com. darklandsberlin.com. darklightdesign.com. ln-cc.com. zeitlosberlin.com

The people I rely on for personal wellbeing are, first and foremost, my family and friends. They keep me healthy and happy. I also have an under-the-radar shiatsu massage therapist who is key for relaxation, as is the professional health team at Studio Wayne McGregor – especially our osteopath. I also love to swim at The Health Club at One Aldwych hotel. 1 Aldwych, London WC2 (020-7300 0600; onealdwych.com/health-club)

If I didn’t live in London, the place I would live is Lamu, off the coast of Kenya. It is a Unesco World Heritage site for good reason: the beautiful Indian Ocean, the 18th-century Swahili architecture and the wandering donkeys make it a magical place. Mike’s Camp is an authentic place to stay with a Robinson Crusoe feel, while Manda Toto Island is the place to go for snorkelling and it can only be reached by dhow. For crafts made from local materials, Saba Furniture Company offers ethically produced, minimalist pieces that preserve inter-generational crafts. mikescampkiwayu.com

If I weren’t doing what I do, I would be an architect. I love plans and watching them become a reality. I am currently fascinated by Manhattan Loft Gardens, a 42-storey skyscraper in London’s Stratford by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architects. It’s a double-cantilevered 135m tower with three sky gardens and I find it so inspiring. And I’d love to create the kind of serene spaces seen in the spare work of architects such as John Pawson. manhattanloftgardens.com