ArchitectSir NORMAN FOSTERBy- SRISHTI SHUBH

INTRODUCTION

• Born on June1, 1935• Raised in Manchester, in a working class family• Had the work ethics like his parents who were diligent and

dedicated to work.• Worked at treasurer’s office at Town hall.• Joined University of Manchester, School of Architecture• Later he got a fellowship at Yale School of Architecture, and

completed his masters under Richard Rogers, also his future business partner.

• In 1953 he served the Royal Air Force, driven by his passion for Aircrafts

• In 1963 he set up practice in United Kingdom, under the name of Team 4,which later became Foster+ Partners.

• He is one of the most High Tech architects of present time.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

• Foster was Knighted in 1990. Also he was made life peer in 1999-as Lord Baron Foster of Thames Bank.

• In 1994- awarded the AIA Gold Medal• Second British architect to have won Sterling Prize

twice.• Awarded the Pritzker Prize in 1999• In 2009 – Prince of Asturias Award, for Arts• Received Aga Khan Award for Architecture• And is a fellow of the Chartered Society of

DesignersHe has received numerous more awards and recognition for his works over his lifetime.

ARCHITECT’S PHILOSOPHIES• “The quality of our surroundings has a direct influence

on the quality of our lives”.• He believes that “Architecture is generated by the

needs of people, both material and spiritual”.• The process of ‘reinvention’ distinguishes all of his

work – past and present – and rests on a duty to design well and to design responsibly – whether that is at the scale of an airport or a door handle.

• He anticipated trends like energy conservation and ecological impacts, pioneering design solutions that use totally renewable sources of energy and offer dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions. Environmental awareness is an integral part of his design as it evolves to meet the challenges of the next forty years

LANDMARK DESIGNS

30 St Mary Axe London, or The Gherkin (Skyscrapers can be eco-friendly)•  Iconic symbol of London at 180 mtrs. and is one of the

city's most widely recognised examples of modern architecture.

• “Gherkin” meaning a cucumber denotes the unusual shape of the building.

• Gaps in each floor create six air shafts that serve as a natural ventilation system for the entire building.

• Diamond shaped scaly façade is another ingenuine design, which gives a shimmering crystal image, very elegant design.

• The triangulated perimeter also provides enough stiffness to the building to resist high wind turbulence at greater height, also the slender shape provides minimum resistance to winds.

• The narrower base is in line with the narrow London roads, which does not make the building massive or imposing, even after its huge scale

 Tower's topmost panoramic dome, known as the "lens“ offers a magnificent view of the city. The only curved piece of glass in the building.

Bar for tenants and guests at 40th floor. Was achieved by stopping the main lift at 34th floor. And connecting a push-from-below lift till 39th floor, so as to maintain a hindrance free flat surface at the topmost floor.

Giant double glazed structure lets natural light in, enhancing the work environment and reducing lighting costs.Energy-saving methods which allow it to use half the power a similar tower would typically consume

External skeleton of the building is made of cross-linked steel pieces, which are then clad by the diamond-shaped double glazing.

• Masterpiece in skyscraper architecture.

• Voted as the most admired new building in the world.

Emulates Norman Foster’s thinking of enhancing the living environment to enhance people’s lives.

Milau Viaduct, France (useful things can be beautiful too)

• Tallest bridge in the world.• A cable stayed bridge with seven tall piers spanning a

length of 2.5 km, over the river tarn.

• The bridge deck was constructed on land at the ends of the viaduct and rolled lengthwise from one pylon to the next, over a  hydraulically operated assembly system.

• Mast pieces were driven over the new deck lying down horizontally

• Pieces were joined to form the one complete mast, still lying horizontally

• Mast was then tilted upwards

• 11 Cable stays per mast connecting the masts and the deck were then installed, and the bridge was tensioned overall and weight tested.

The second mast is the tallest structure in France,Taller than the Eiffel Tower.

• There is something about the bridge that is nothing short of awe inspiring.

• The idea itself of a bridge launching through a pictresque landscape on a series of giant posts, the size of the skyscrapers is very courageous.

• The design of the bridge is very serene, and enchanting, and in no way hurts the existing natural landscape and scenery.

• He intended it to be “as delicate as a butterfly.” Observing that “to drive across the bridge would feel like flying a car,”

• He also noted the structure “illustrates how a collaboration between architects and engineers can result in a structure of breathtaking beauty,” adding that this beauty “lies primarily in its clarity of expression.”

• Thus the design gives the impression that the bridge piers had grown from the soil, in line with Foster’s conviction that “A work of man must fuse with nature.”

• The bridge received the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award

The Riechstag – (History and Symbolism)

 It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933 when it was severely damaged in a fire.After World War II, It was rendered useless.The ruined building was made safe against the elements and partially refurbished in the 1960s, but no attempt at full restoration was made until after German reunification on October 3, 1990.

• The building was then renovated by Norman Foster.• This time his architecture was about power.• Norman foster creates a landmark of cultures of very different times

to express who or what they are through his architecture.• The dome that he created above the Reichstag building was a symbol

of the reunified Germany.• It stood for the democracy and unity of the new nation.

• The Reichstag dome is a glass dome. with a 360 degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape.

• The dome is open to the public and can be reached by climbing two steel, spiralling ramps that look like a double-helix.

•  A mirrored cone in the centre of the dome directs sunlight into the building, and so that visitors can see the working of the chamber

• The glass dome was also designed by Foster to be environmentally friendly effectively decreasing the carbon emissions of the building

• The futuristic and transparent design of the Reichstag dome makes it a unique landmark, and symbolizes Berlin's attempt to move away from a past of Nazism and instead towards a future with a heavier emphasis on a united, democratic Germany

• He proposed something that would work with the ecology of the building

• It would work with the winds, would draw sun in, would have shade.

• It would also celebrate, a processional route to the summit, for the visitors who come to the cupola.

• The Dome symbolizes that the people are above the government.

• The challenges met by Foster were• To restore damage• To take what was left of the old building and make it look new

again.• To show what once happened to the building, to show it’s history• He handles this very sensitively.• He kept the Russian soldiers, sometimes obscene messages,

written on the stone walls.• Since it was a part of the German history, a part of that building,

which should not be wiped out.

Masdar City is a ground breaking new design by Foster in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), With city planning focused on providing all of the modern conveniences, services and benefits of living in one of the great cities of the world, but in a 100% carbon-neutral environment.

While sustaining a population of 47,500, Masdar City will run only on renewable energies sourced from the harsh Arabian climate via the wind and sun. Cars will be replaced with electronic rail and an innovative personal rapid transit system making it pedestrian friendly where upon no resident will be less than 200m from public transport & amenities.

Masdar City is more than a concept – it is happening. Phase One of Masdar City has now begun – The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is underway and reaching completion.

WILLIS FABER AND DUMAS BUILDING, IPSWICH

AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM

CLYDE AUDITORIUM

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