Pritzker Prize-winning British architect Norman Foster is famous for "High Tech" design that explores technological shapes and ideas. In addition to winning the world's most prestigious awards for architecture, he has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
Born:
June 1, 1935 in Manchester, England
Early Life of Sir Norman Foster:
Born in a working class family, Norman Foster did not seem likely to become a famous architect. Although he was a good student in high school and showed an early interest in architecture, he did not enroll in college until he was 21 years old. Foster won numerous scholarships during his years at Manchester University, including one to attend Yale University in the United States.
Education of Sir Norman Foster:
- Manchester University School of Architecture
- Yale University
Sir Norman Foster's Partnerships:
At the beginning of his career, Foster worked as a member of the successful "Team 4" firm with his wife, Wendy Foster, and the husband and wife team of Richard Rogers and Sue Rogers. His own firm, Foster Associates, was founded in London in 1967.
Buildings by Sir Norman Foster:
- 1970-74: Willis Faber and Dumas Building, Ipswich, United Kingdom
- 1977: Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
- 1979-86: Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Hong Kong
- 1987-1991: Century Tower Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- 1987-1997: American Air Museum, Duxford, United Kingdom
- 1988-1995: Metro Entrance, Bilbao, Spain
- 1989-1992: Cranfield University Library, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
- 1990-1995: Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- 1991-1993: Lycée Albert Camus, Fréjus, France
- 1991-97: Commerzbank , Frankfurt, Germany
- 1992-99: New German Parliament, Berlin, Germany
- 1995-2001: Daewoo Research and Development, Seoul, South Korea
- 1998-2003: Albion Riverside, London, United Kingdom
- 2001-2006: Hearst Tower, New York City
- 2008: Terminal T3, Beijing, China
Under Construction:
- 2 World Trade Center. A sagging real estate market has stalled construction on Norman Foster's proposed skyscraper for Ground Zero in New York City.
Awards and Honers:
Sir Norman Foster has won numerous awards and honers, including
- 1999: Pritzker Architecture Prize
- 1997: Appointed by the Queen to the Order of Merit
- 1990: RIBA Trustees Medal for the Willis Faber Dumas building
- 1990: Knighthood from the Queen of England
- 1983: RIBA Royal Gold Medal
Related People:
More About Sir Norman Foster:
Foster Associates became known for "High Tech" design that explored technological shapes and ideas. In his work, Sir Norman Foster often uses off-site manufactured parts and the repetition of modular elements. The firm frequently designs special components for these high-tech modernist buildings.
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