Foster & Partners, England : Information + Images

Swiss Re, London, UK photograph © adrian welch Swiss Re Building : London skyscraper	Crystal Island, Moscow, Russia picture from the architect Russian tower : 450m high tower
Rossiya Tower, Moscow, Russia picture from the architect Russia Tower : tallest building in Europe	Capital Airport, Beijing, China image : Nigel Young Beijing Airport Building
All images credit : Foster + Partners unless stated otherwise Lord Foster runs what is certainly one of the most celebrated architect offices in the world of the last century. Not only prolific, the practice has consistently pushed boundaries, especially in terms of materials and technology, but also of form and building envelope. Norman was born in Manchester in 1935. Having moved to London, and worked in Team 4, he established Foster Associates in 1967. This continued the Hi-Tec (or High-Tech) style of Team 4 with influences from Archigram. Prefabrication and modular design were clear goals with a passion for good detailing. One of Norman Foster's key early works was the Willis Faber Dumas building (1974) in southern England. It eschewed traditional wet trades for the facade and compartmentalised space within. This design, along with the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at UEA and the former Renault Distribution Centre, celebrated technology and notions of flexibility. Related architects at this time (early 1980s) included Nicholas Grimshaw, Richard Rogers and Michael Hopkins. In fact, this reaction to the doctrines of Corb and Mies can be traced back to the late 1960s, for example Norman Foster's Reliance Controls Electronics Factory (1967). During the Postmodern years the Foster + Partners style became a little more colourful but never strayed from technological rigour. In the 21st century - with new computer technology - forms have become more flowing, for example Beijing airport and the Swiss Re Building. Over the years a stunning array of buildings and bridges has emerged from the Foster + Partners office. We've selected what we feel are the key designs by practice, in chronological order below. Major Buildings by Foster + Partners Willis Faber & Dumas Headquarters, Ipswich, England (1974) Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, England (1977) Renault Distribution Centre, Swindon, England (1982) Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, Hong Kong (1986) Stansted Airport Building, England (1991) Carré d'Art, Nîmes, France (1993) Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong (1998) Reichstag Building, Berlin, Germany (1999) British Museum Great Court, London, England (2001) 30 St Mary Axe - aka Swiss Re Building, London, England (2004) Millau Viaduct, France (2004) Comments on the selection welcome. These Foster + Partners designs are not selected due to their fame - we've left out London City Hall and the Millennium Bridge for example - but because each in its way achieved a milestone and signified strong creative achievement. Foster and Partners - Architecture News 2009, reverse chronological: Incheon Masterplan, South Korea image : Foster + Partners Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi, UAE Cornerstone Museum in the Saadiyat Island Cultural District Sierra Leone School, Africa Working together with Article 25, Save the Children and Buro Happold, this unique architecture project to establish a design prototype was the result of close collaboration with the local community to create a series of highly flexible buildings with larger classrooms, effective ventilation and natural light.
McLaren Production Centre, England image : Nigel Young_Foster + Partners	Slussen masterplan, Stockholm, Sweden image : Foster + Partners
Sofia Multifunctional Complex, Bulgaria picture from the architect	Museum of Fine Arts Boston, USA photo from the architect
Aurelis Masterplan, Duisburg, Germany picture from the architect	Riva Hotel, London, England image : Foster + Partners
Paris skyscrapers, France picture from the architect	Anfa Place Buildings, Morocco image : Foster + Partners
Capella Resort Sentosa Island, Singapore image : Foster + Partners	Arcadia Centre, London, UK with HKR Architects picture : Foster + Partners
Foster and Partners - Architecture News 2008, reverse chronological: Paris Office Building Trapeze masterplan office development, Boulogne Billancourt, Paris Birmingham Library, central England, UK Birmingham Library Competition : shortlisted
Khan Shatyry Entertainment Centre Astana, Kazakhstan picture from the architect Khan Shatyry Astana mast completed	Gulf States Building Awards Dubai image of Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi Gulf States Building Awards Foster + Partners - Architect of the Year
Lenbachhaus Museum Project Munich, Germany picture from the architect Lenbachhaus Museum	The Zénith Saint-Etienne, France photo : Nigel Young Zenith Saint-Etienne Building
200 Greenwich Street New York, USA picture from the architect 200 Greenwich Street : WTC2	Al Raha Beach Development Abu Dhabi, UAE picture : Foster + Partners Al Raha Beach Buildings
Winspear Opera House Dallas, USA photo : Iwan Baan Winspear Opera House	Black Sea Gardens Resort Design Bulgaria picture from the architect Foster + Partners masterplan
The United Arab Emirates Pavilion Shanghai Expo 2010, China image : Foster & Partners UAE Pavilion Shanghai	New Holland Island St Petersburg, Russia image : Foster & Partners New Holland Island
The Bow Calgary, Canada image : Foster & Partners The Bow Calgary	The Troika Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia picture from the architect The Troika Kuala Lumpur Buildings
Khanty Mansiysk Siberia, Russia image : Foster & Partners Khanty Mansiysk Building	Masdar Development Abu Dhabi, UAE picture from the architect Masdar City
Spaceport America New Mexico, USA picture : Foster + Partners American Spaceport	Caja Madrid Tower Madrid, Spain picture from the architect Torre Caja Building
Nou Camp Stadium redevelopment Barcelona, Spain picture from the architect Nou Camp Stadium : Architecture design	Quartermile Edinburgh, Scotland photo © adrian welch Quartermile Buildings