Norman Foster: How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr Foster ?

Sky Arts 1: Tuesday 21st February 2012 : Norman Foster: How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr Foster ?

American Air Museum - Duxford, UK, 1997
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Air_Museum#American_Air_Museum

Millau Viaduct - France, 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millau_Viaduct

Swiss Re Headquarters - London, UK, 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gherkin

* Influenced by american architecture. Foster has one tower (albeit relatively small) in New York.

Hearst Tower - New York, USA, 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearst_Tower_(New_York_City)

Small but has a presence. "The Mozart of Modernism".  Grid of triangulation - inherently stronger using 20% less steel and 80% of steel used, recycled steel. Sustainable. New geometry not used before in New York skyscrapers, corners look as though they dissolve into thin air.

* From Manchester
* Studied & worked in USA
* Norman Foster moved back to UK
* Partnership with Richard Rogers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rogers

Reliance Control Factory - just out Swindon, UK
Won F.T. Award (Team 4 with Richard Rogers). First High-Tech Building.

* Foster Associates
* Industrial Architecture

Olsen Building - first building Foster did on his own. Influencial.

Willis Faber & Dumas - Ipswich, UK, 1975
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_Building_(Ipswich)
Radical approach. "Giant black glass piano". Swimming Pool. Plants. Atrium. White ceiling looked green - sucked in the colour.


* Buckminster Fuller - Visionary architect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller
Fuller's big idea was to do more with less. Make strongest structures with the least amount of resources.

Asked Norman the question: How much does your building weigh ?
The building - Sainsbury's Centre - weighed 5328 tonnes - most lost in the invisible concrete sub-structure (least attractive part of the building). Made Norman think in a different way.

Norman Foster talking in 1980:

"A 3ft brick wall, it weighs about a half a tonne......a concrete cavity wall (9inches) an aggressive material ....attracts graffiti......or 3 brick walls with cavities or a sandwich panel nice and light, weighs a few ounces and lets the light through ...all materials have one thing in common, the same performance".

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts - Norwich, UK, 1978
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainsbury_Centre_for_Visual_Arts

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank - Hong Kong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSBC_Main_Building,_Hong_Kong

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx

McLaren Technology Centre - UK, 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_Technology_Centre

City Hall - London, 2002
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Hall_(London)

Petronas University of Technology - Malaysia, 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_University_of_Technology

The Millenium Bridge - London, 2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Bridge_(London)

The Sage Gateshead - UK, 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sage_Gateshead


*Now a global company.

Al Faisaliah Tower - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Faisaliyah_Center

Free University Berlin - 2005
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_University_Berlin

Wembley Stadium - London, 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Stadium

Stansted Airport - UK, 1991
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stansted_Airport

Commerzbank Headquarters - Frankfurt, Germany, 1997
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commerzbank_Tower

Carre d' Art - France, 1993
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carr%C3%A9_d'Art

Palace of Peace - Kazakhstan, 2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Peace_and_Reconciliation


Bilbao Metro - Spain, 1995

Kawana House - Japan, 1992
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/0411/Default.aspx

Torre de Collserola - Barcelona, Spain, 1992
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_de_Collserola

Dresden Station - Germany, 2006.
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/0916/default.aspx

Reichstag - Berlin, 1999
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_(building)



Great Court British Museum - London, 2000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Court,_British_Museum


Trafalgar Square Redevelopment - London, 2003
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square



Chek Lap Kok Airport - Hong Kong, 1997
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/0639/default.aspx


Beijing Airport - 2008
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/1235/default.aspx



* We have something to learn from the emerging nations.

* For the first time in history, the planet is more urban.


Masdar City - UAE, 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masdar_City
Idea: Carbon neutral city for 100,000 inhabitants. Electric cars. City lifted above transport routes.