Norman Foster

2025-11-03T09:43:36Z

157.125.154.234: /* Early life and education */

{{Short description|English architect (born 1935)}}
{{For|other people of the same name|Norman Foster (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Lord Foster|other uses|Lord Foster (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox architect
| honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = The Lord Foster of Thames Bank
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OM|RA|HonFREng}}
| birth_name = Norman Robert Foster
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1935|6|1}}
| birth_place = [[Reddish]], [[Stockport]], England
| alma_mater = [[University of Manchester]]<br />[[Yale School of Architecture|Yale University]]
| image = Norman Foster 1.jpg
| image_size = 220
| caption = Lord Foster in 2017
| awards = {{hlist|[[Stirling Prize]]|[[Pritzker Architecture Prize]]|[[Minerva medal]]|[[Prince of Asturias Awards|Prince of Asturias Award]]|[[HonFREng]]|Mérite Européen Gold Medal|[[AIA Gold Medal]]<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Fellows - Royal Academy of Engineering |url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows |website=Royal Academy of Engineering |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521041125/https://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows |access-date=23 December 2021 |archive-date=21 May 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
| practice = [[Foster + Partners]]
| significant_buildings = {{hlist|[[Apple Park]]|[[30 St Mary Axe]]|[[Willis Building (Ipswich)|Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters]]|[[Wembley Stadium]]|[[HSBC Building (Hong Kong)|HSBC Building]]|[[Reichstag building]]}}
| significant_projects = American Air Museum at the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]]
| website = {{URL|www.normanfosterfoundation.org}}
| spouse = {{plainlist |
*{{marriage|[[Wendy Foster|Wendy Cheesman]]|1964|1989|end=d}}
*{{marriage|Begum Sabiha Rumani Malik|1991|1995|end=div}}
*{{marriage|[[Elena Ochoa Foster|Elena Fernández-Ferreiro López de Ochoa]]|1996}}
}}
| children = 5
| embedded = {{Infobox person |embed=yes
}}
}}

'''Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank''' (born 1 June 1935) is an English architect. Closely associated with the development of [[high-tech architecture]], Lord Foster is recognised as a key figure in British modernist architecture. His firm [[Foster and Partners]], first founded in 1967 as Foster Associates is the largest in the United Kingdom, and operates internationally. He also serves as president of the '''Norman Foster Foundation''', established to 'promote interdisciplinary thinking and research to help new generations of architects, designers and urbanists to anticipate the future'. The foundation, which opened in June 2017, is based in Madrid<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home page |url=https://www.normanfosterfoundation.org/ |website=Norman Foster Foundation}}</ref> and operates globally. Foster received the [[Pritzker Prize]] in 2000.

==Early life and education==
Norman Robert Foster was born in 1935 in [[Reddish]], {{Convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} north of [[Stockport]], formerly a part of [[Lancashire]] but by then incorporated into the [[County Borough]] of Stockport. He was the only child of Robert and Lilian Foster (born Smith). The family moved to [[Levenshulme]], a neighbouring suburb of [[Manchester]], where they lived in poverty.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=11}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Rowan |title=Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture by Deyan Sudjic |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/may/23/norman-foster-biography-book-review |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=23 May 2010 |access-date=6 October 2011}}</ref> His father was a machine painter at the [[Metropolitan-Vickers]] works in [[Trafford Park]], which influenced Norman to take up engineering, design, and, ultimately, architecture.<ref name=TG99/><ref name="inspire">{{cite news |title=Taller, higher, bigger, Foster |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2005/oct/24/architecture |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 October 2005 |access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref> His mother worked in a local bakery.<ref name=TT99>{{cite news |last=von Hase |first=Bettina |title=Foster's brew |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4716630/Fosters-brew.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226190536/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4716630/Fosters-brew.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2016 |work=The Telegraph |date=16 January 1999|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref> Foster's parents were diligent and hard workers who often had neighbours and family members look after their son, which Foster later believed restricted his relationship with his mother and father.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=19}}

Foster attended [[Burnage Academy for Boys|Burnage Grammar School for Boys]] in [[Burnage]], where he was bullied by fellow pupils and took up reading.<ref name=TG99/> He considered himself quiet and awkward in his early years.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Book review: Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture |url=http://www.scotsman.com/features/Book-review-Norman-Foster-A.6357545.jp |work=The Scotsman |date=13 June 2010 |access-date=6 October 2011}}</ref> At 16, he left school and passed an entrance exam for a trainee scheme set up by [[Manchester Town Hall]], which led to his first job, an office junior and clerk in the treasurer's department.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=27}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Norman Foster Biography and Interview |website=achievement.org |publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]] |url=https://www.achievement.org/achiever/lord-norman-foster/#interview}}</ref>{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=27}} In 1953, Foster completed his [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|national service]] in the [[Royal Air Force]], choosing the air force because aircraft had been a longtime hobby.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=34}} Upon returning to Manchester, Foster went against his parents' wishes and sought employment elsewhere. He had seven O-levels by this time, and applied to work at a [[duplicating machine]] company, telling the interviewer he had applied for the prospect of a company car and a £1,000 salary.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=36}} Instead, he became an assistant to a contract manager at a local architects, John E. Beardshaw and Partners.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=36}} The staff advised him that if he wished to become an architect, he should prepare a portfolio of drawings using the [[perspective (graphical)|perspective]] and [[shop drawing]]s from Beardshaw's practice as an example.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=39}} Beardshaw was so impressed with Foster's drawings that he promoted him to the drawing department.{{sfn|Sudjic|2010|page=40}}

In 1956 Foster began study at the [[Manchester School of Architecture|School of Architecture and City Planning]], part of the [[Victoria University of Manchester]]. He was ineligible for a [[maintenance grant]], so he took part-time jobs to fund his studies, including an ice-cream salesman, bouncer, and night shifts at a bakery making [[crumpets]].<ref name=TG99/><ref name=TT99/><ref name="jobs">{{cite news |title=Norman Foster: Building the future |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/742087.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=9 May 2000 |access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref> During this time, he also studied at the local library in Levenshulme.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thistlethwaite |first=Laura |title=Architect's Levenshulme {{sic|nolink=y|inpsiration}} |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1076763_architects_levenshulme_inpsiration |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420231246/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1076763_architects_levenshulme_inpsiration |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2013 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=30 October 2008 |access-date=5 October 2011 }}</ref> His talent and hard work was recognised in 1959 when he won £105 and a [[RIBA President's Medals Students Award|RIBA silver medal]] for what he described as "a measured drawing of a [[windmill]]".<ref name=TI96>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/reaching-for-the-sky-1357005.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/reaching-for-the-sky-1357005.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Reaching for the sky|first=Jonathan|last=Glancey|date=6 October 1996|work=The Independent|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref> The windmill he drew was [[Bourn Windmill]], [[Cambridgeshire]].<ref name=BBC61008432>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-61008432 |title=Norman Foster backs campaign to save Bourn Mill |publisher=BBC News Online |date=7 April 2022 |accessdate=11 April 2022 }}</ref> After graduating in 1961,<ref name=TG99/> Foster won the [[Henry Fellowship]] to the [[Yale School of Architecture]] in New Haven, Connecticut, where he met future business partner [[Richard Rogers]] and earned his master's degree. At the suggestion of Yale art historian [[Vincent Scully]], the pair travelled across America for a year to study architecture.<ref name=sf2011>[http://www.sendungen.sf.tv/sternstunden/Nachrichten/Archiv/2011/11/29/sternstundeneinzel/Sternstunde-Kunst-vom-4.-Dezember-2011 How much does your building weigh, Mr. Foster?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504100810/http://www.sendungen.sf.tv/sternstunden/Nachrichten/Archiv/2011/11/29/sternstundeneinzel/Sternstunde-Kunst-vom-4.-Dezember-2011 |date=4 May 2012 }}, Sternstunde Kultur, Schweizer Fernsehen, 4 December 2011.</ref>

==Career==
===1960s–1980s===
[[File:HK_HSBC_Main_Building_2008.jpg|thumb|The [[HSBC Building (Hong Kong)|HSBC Building]] in Hong Kong]]
In 1963 Foster returned to the UK and established his own architectural firm [[Team 4]], with Rogers, [[Su Rogers|Su Brumwell]], and the sisters [[Georgie Wolton|Georgie]] and [[Wendy Foster|Wendy Cheesman]].<ref name=TT99/> Among their first projects was the Cockpit, a minimalist glass bubble installed in Cornwall, the features of which became a recurring theme in Foster's future projects.<ref name=PP99>{{cite web|url=https://www.pritzkerprize.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/1999_bio_0.pdf|title=Norman Foster - 1999 Laureate - Biography|date=1999|publisher=The Pritzker Architecture Prize|access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref> After the four separated in 1967, Foster and Wendy founded a new practice, Foster Associates. From 1968 to 1983, Foster collaborated with American architect [[Richard Buckminster Fuller]] on several projects that became catalysts in the development of an environmentally sensitive approach to design, such as the Samuel Beckett Theatre at [[St Peter's College, Oxford|St Peter's College]], Oxford.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/samuel-beckett-theatre/ |title = Samuel Brackett Theatre – The Project |publisher = Foster + Partners |access-date = 9 March 2016 |archive-date = 10 September 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170910045109/http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/samuel-beckett-theatre/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

Foster Associates concentrated on industrial buildings until 1969, when the practice worked on the administrative and leisure centre for [[Fred. Olsen Lines]] based in the [[London Docklands]], which integrated workers and managers within the same office space.<ref name=sf2011/> This was followed, in 1970, by the world's first inflatable office building for Computer Technology Limited near [[Hemel Hempstead]], which housed 70 employees for a year.<ref name=PP99/> The practice's breakthrough project in England followed in 1974 with the completion of the [[Willis Building (Ipswich)|Willis Faber & Dumas headquarters]] in [[Ipswich]], commissioned in 1970 and completed in 1975. The client, a family-run insurance company, wanted to restore a sense of community to the workplace. In response, Foster designed a space with modular, [[open plan]] office floors, long before open-plan became the norm, and placed a roof garden, 25-metre swimming pool, and gymnasium in the building to enhance the quality of life for the company's 1,200 employees.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/nationaltreasures/2188199/Lord-Norman-Foster-portrait.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/nationaltreasures/2188199/Lord-Norman-Foster-portrait.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Lord Norman Foster portrait |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 June 2008 |access-date=1 October 2011 |location=London }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The building has a full-height glass façade moulded to the medieval street plan and contributes drama, subtly shifting from opaque, reflective black to a glowing back-lit transparency as the sun sets. The design was inspired by the [[Daily Express Building, Manchester|Daily Express Building]] in Manchester that Foster had admired as a youngster. The building is now [[Listed building|Grade I listed]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1237417|title=The Willis Building, non Civil Parish - 1237417 | Historic England}}</ref> The [[Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts]], an art gallery and museum on the campus of the [[University of East Anglia]], [[Norwich]], was one of the first major public buildings to be designed by Foster, completed in 1978, and became grade II* listed in December 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1409810?section=official-list-entry|title = Sainsbury Centre, attached walkway, underground loading bay, and retaining walls to loading bay access road at the University of East Anglia, non Civil Parish - 1409810 | Historic England}}</ref>

In 1981, Foster received a commission for the construction of a new terminal building at London's [[Stansted Airport]]. Executed by Foster + Partners, the building, recognised as a landmark work of high-tech architecture, was opened to the public in 1991, and was awarded the 1990 [[European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture]] / Mies van der Rohe Award. As part of the project's development, in 1988 Foster and British artist [[Brian Clarke]] made several proposals for an integral [[stained glass]] artwork for the terminal building; the principal proposal would have seen the walls of the terminal's east and west elevations clad in two sequences of traditionally mouth-blown, leaded glass. For complex technical and security reasons, the original scheme, which Clarke considered to be his ''magnum opus'',<ref name="Architectural Artist">{{cite book | title=Brian Clarke: Architectural Artist | publisher=Academy Editions | author=Powell, Kenneth | year=1994 | page=13 | isbn=1-85490-343-8 }}</ref> couldn't be executed. Though unrealised, the collaboration is historically significant for its scale, its introduction of colour and materials broadly viewed as antithetical to high-tech architecture into a key work of that movement, and for having been the first time in the history of stained glass that [[computer-assisted design]] had been utilised in the creative process.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Foster gained a reputation for designing office buildings. In the 1980s he designed the [[HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong|HSBC Main Building]] in Hong Kong for [[the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation]] (a founding member of the future [[HSBC Holdings plc]]), at the time the most expensive building ever constructed. The building is marked by its high level of light transparency, as all 3500 workers have a view to [[Victoria Peak]] or [[Victoria Harbour]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Norman Foster |last=Treiber |first=Daniel |publisher=E & FN Spon |year=1995 |page=76}}</ref> Foster said that if the firm had not won the contract it would probably have been bankrupted.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

===1990s–present===
[[File:Century_Tower_Juntendo.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Century Tower (Tokyo)|Century Tower]], built in 1991]]

[[File:Norman Foster, 2001.jpg|thumb|right|Foster lecturing in 2001]]
[[File:Stansted_Airport_Terminal_geograph-4102598-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|Inside the [[Stansted Airport]] terminal in 1992]]
Foster was assigned the brief for a development on the site of the Baltic Exchange, which had been damaged beyond repair by an IRA bomb, in the 1990s. Foster + Partners submitted a plan for a {{convert|385|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} skyscraper, the [[Millennium Tower (London)|London Millennium Tower]], but its height was seen as excessive for London's skyline.<ref>{{Cite news |title=London Millennium Tower |url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=102960 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130409031449/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=102960 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=9 April 2013 |work=Emporis |access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> The proposal was scrapped and instead Foster proposed 30 St Mary Axe, popularly referred to as "the gherkin", after its shape. Foster worked with engineers to integrate complex computer systems with the most basic physical laws, such as [[convection]]. In 1999, the company was renamed [[Foster + Partners]].{{cn|date=March 2025}}

By then, Foster's style had evolved from its earlier sophisticated, machine-influenced high-tech vision into a more sharp-edged modernity. In 2004, Foster designed the [[List of tallest bridges in the world|tallest bridge in the world]], the [[Millau Viaduct]] in [[Southern France]], with the Millau Mayor Jacques Godfrain stating; "The architect, Norman Foster, gave us a model of art."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4091813.stm |title=France shows off tallest bridge |publisher=BBC News |date=14 December 2004 |access-date=1 October 2011}}</ref>

Foster worked with [[Steve Jobs]] from about 2009 until Jobs' death to design the Apple offices, Apple Campus 2 (now called [[Apple Park]]), in Cupertino, California, US. Apple's board and staff continued to work with Foster as the design was completed and the construction in progress.<ref name="Levy2017" /> The circular building was opened to employees in April 2017, six years after Jobs died in 2011.<ref name="Levy2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/2017/05/apple-park-new-silicon-valley-campus/ |title=One More Thing: Inside Apple's Insanely Great (or Just Insane) New Mothership |last=Levy |first=Steven |newspaper=Wired |date=16 May 2017 |access-date=1 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2013-04-04/why-steve-jobs-tapped-norman-foster-to-design-apples-future-hq |title=Why Steve Jobs Tapped Norman Foster to Design Apple's Future HQ |newspaper=Bloomberg News |access-date=1 July 2017 |date=4 April 2013}}</ref>

In January 2007, the ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|Sunday Times]]'' reported that Foster had called in Catalyst, a corporate finance house, to find buyers for Foster + Partners. Foster does not intend to retire, but rather to sell his 80–90% holding in the company valued at £300 million to £500 million.<ref name="Foster puts £500m firm up for sale">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2559000,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110604124650/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2559000,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Foster puts £500m firm up for sale | location=London | work=The Times | date=21 January 2007 | first=Fiona | last=Hamilton}}</ref> In 2007, he worked with [[Philippe Starck]] and Sir [[Richard Branson]] of the [[Virgin Group]] for the [[Virgin Galactic]] plans.<ref>''Carré d'Art'', [[Jean-Pierre Thiollet]], Anagramme Ed., 2008, p. 134</ref>

Foster currently sits on the board of trustees at architectural charity [[Article 25]] who design, construct and manage innovative, safe, sustainable buildings in some of the most inhospitable and unstable regions of the world. He has also been on the Board of Trustees of [[The Architecture Foundation]]. Foster believes that attracting young talent is essential, and is proud that the average age of people working for Foster and Partners is 32, just like it was in 1967.<ref name="sf2011" />

In May 2022, it was announced that Foster would help plan reconstruction in Ukraine after the end of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-06 |title=Star architect Foster to help plan Ukraine reconstruction |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/star-architect-foster-help-plan-ukraine-reconstruction-2022-05-06/ |access-date=2022-05-06}}</ref>

By 2024, Foster + Partners earned more than half a billion dollars in fees. 40% of Foster + Partner's fees were paid by clients in the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Parker |first=Ian |date=January 27, 2025 |title=The Master Builder: Norman Foster's Empire of Image Control |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/27/norman-foster-profile |magazine=The New Yorker |pages=26–43 |language=en-US |volume=100 |issue=47 |issn=0028-792X}}</ref>

In September 2025, Foster was awarded the [[London Design Festival|London Design Festival's]] lifetime achievement medal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-08 |title=Norman Foster: ‘My best building is not a building’ |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/norman-foster-architect-interview-london-lifetime-achievement-medal-lzglwj9fb |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Family===
Foster has been married three times. His first wife, [[Wendy Foster|Wendy Cheesman]], one of the four founders of Team 4, died from cancer in 1989.<ref name=TI06>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/norman-foster-man-of-steel-6231628.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/norman-foster-man-of-steel-6231628.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Norman Foster: Man of steel|date=9 September 2006|work=The Independent|access-date=16 May 2019}}</ref> From 1991 to 1995, he was married to Begum Sabiha Rumani Malik; the marriage ended in divorce.<ref name=TG99>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/1999/jan/02/books.guardianreview10|title=The Guardian Profile: Sir Norman Foster: The master builder|first=Jonathan|last=Glancey|date=2 January 1999|work=The Guardian|access-date=16 May 2019}}</ref> In 1996, he married Spanish psychologist and art curator [[Elena Ochoa Foster|Elena Ochoa]].<ref name=TT99/><ref name=DT17>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/lord-foster-like-hamster-treadmill-always-moving-never-stop/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/lord-foster-like-hamster-treadmill-always-moving-never-stop/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Lord Foster: 'I'm like a hamster on a treadmill. I'm always moving, I never stop|newspaper=The Telegraph|first=Timothy|last=Barber|date=24 May 2017|access-date=16 May 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He has five children; two of the four sons he had with Cheesman are adopted.<ref name=TT99/><ref name=TI96/><ref name=TG10>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/jun/29/norman-foster-interview|title=Norman Foster at 75: Norman's conquests|date=29 June 2010|work=The Guardian|first=Jonathan|last=Glancey|access-date=16 May 2019}}</ref>

===Health===
In the 2000s, Foster was diagnosed with [[bowel cancer]] and was told he had only weeks to live.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/exclusive-building-study-maggies-manchester-by-foster-partners/10005769.article|title=Exclusive building study: Maggie's Manchester by Foster + Partners|work=Architects Journal|first=Laura|last=Mark|date=27 April 2016|access-date=16 May 2019}}</ref> He underwent [[chemotherapy]] treatment and made a full recovery.<ref name=TG10/> He has also suffered a heart attack.<ref name=DT17/>

==Honours==
Foster was made a [[Knight Bachelor]] in the [[1990 Birthday Honours]], granting him the title "Sir."<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=52173 |date=15 June 1990 |page=2}}</ref> He was appointed to the [[Order of Merit]] (OM) in 1997.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=54962 |date=28 November 1997 |page=13399}}</ref> In the [[1999 Birthday Honours]], it was announced that he would be elevated to the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|peerage]], becoming '''Baron Foster of Thames Bank''', of Reddish in the County of Greater Manchester in July.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55565 |date=28 July 1999 |page=8128}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=24643 |date=23 July 1999 |page=1551 |city=Edinburgh}}</ref>

He was elected an [[Associate of the Royal Academy]] (ARA) on 19 May 1983, and a [[Royal Academician]] (RA) on 26 June 1991.<ref name="RA">{{cite web |title=Norman Foster RA |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/norman-foster-ra |website=Royal Academy of Arts |access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref> In 1995, he was elected an [[Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering]] (HonFREng).<ref name="HonFREng">{{cite web |title=List of Fellows – Foster |url=https://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows?q=Foster |website=Royal Academy of Engineering |access-date=17 November 2018 |archive-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117151459/https://www.raeng.org.uk/about-us/the-fellowship/list-of-fellows?q=Foster |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 24 April 2017, he received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom]] of the [[City of London]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Oliver |title=Wembley and Gherkin architect Norman Foster given freedom of the City of London |url=https://www.cityam.com/263439/wembley-and-gherkin-architect-norman-foster-given-freedom |access-date=23 December 2021 |work=City A.M. |date=25 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121048/https://www.cityam.com/263439/wembley-and-gherkin-architect-norman-foster-given-freedom |archive-date=25 April 2017 }}</ref> in October 2018, the [[Bloomberg London]] building received a [[Stirling Prize]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/10/norman-fosters-bloomberg-office-in-london-wins-stirling-prize|title=Norman Foster's Bloomberg office in London wins Stirling prize|last=Wainwright|first=Oliver|date=10 October 2018|website=The Guardian|access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref>

In 1986, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the [[University of Bath]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/honorary-graduates-1980-to-1989 |website=University of Bath Honorary Graduates |access-date=24 July 2024 |title=Honorary graduates, 1980 to 1989}}</ref>

==Recognition==
Foster received [[CTBUH Skyscraper Award|The Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award]] from the [[Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat]] in 2007 to honour his contributions to the advancement of tall buildings.<ref name=CTBUH>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctbuh.org/Awards/AllPastWinners/07_LordNormanFoster/tabid/1050/language/en-GB/Default.aspx |title=2007 Lynn S. Beedle Award Winner |work=Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906173915/http://www.ctbuh.org/Awards/AllPastWinners/07_LordNormanFoster/tabid/1050/language/en-GB/Default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was awarded the [[Aga Khan Award for Architecture]], for the [[Universiti Teknologi Petronas|University of Technology Petronas]] in Malaysia,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tenth Award Cycle 2005–2007 |url=http://www.akdn.org/akaa_award10.asp |publisher=The Aga Khan Development Network |access-date=21 January 2009 |archive-date=23 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123144509/http://www.akdn.org/akaa_award10.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Petronas University of Technology receives 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture |url=http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/302/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |publisher=Foster + Partners |date=9 April 2007 |access-date=21 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409143858/http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/302/Default.aspx |archive-date=9 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and in 2008 he was granted an honorary degree from the Dundee School of Architecture at the [[University of Dundee]]. In 2009, he received the [[Prince of Asturias Awards|Prince of Asturias Award]] in the category 'Arts'. In 2017, he received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] presented by Awards Council member [[Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild|Lord Jacob Rothschild]] during the International Achievement Summit in London.<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org |publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= 2017 Summit Highlights Photo: Awards Council member Lord Jacob Rothschild presents the Golden Plate Award to British architect Lord Norman Foster.|publisher= Academy of Achievement |url=https://achievement.org/summit/2017/}}</ref> In 2012, Foster was among the [[Culture of the United Kingdom|British cultural figures]] selected by artist Sir [[Peter Blake (artist)|Peter Blake]] to appear in a new version of his most famous artwork – the Beatles' ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' album cover – to celebrate the British cultural figures of his life that he most admires.<ref>{{cite news|title=New faces on Sgt Pepper album cover for artist Peter Blake's 80th birthday|url= https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/apr/02/peter-blake-sgt-pepper-cover-revisited|work=The Guardian|date=5 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Peter Blake's new Beatles' Sgt Pepper's album cover|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-17583026|publisher=BBC News|date=8 November 2016}}</ref> He was awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Medal by the [[London Design Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2025 |title=Norman Foster: ‘My best building is not a building’ |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/norman-foster-architect-interview-london-lifetime-achievement-medal-lzglwj9fb |access-date=10 September 2025 |website=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Paghdar-2025">{{Cite web |last=Paghdar |first=Bansari |date=9 September 2025 |title=Spanning creative spectrums, LDF reveals winners of the 2025 London Design Medals |url=https://www.stirworld.com/see-news-spanning-creative-spectrums-ldf-reveals-winners-of-the-2025-london-design-medals |access-date=10 September 2025 |website=Stir World}}</ref><ref name="Archinect-2025">{{Cite web |title=Norman Foster among medal winners at London Design Festival 2025 |url=https://archinect.com/news/bustler/10633/norman-foster-among-medal-winners-at-london-design-festival-2025 |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=Archinect |language=en}}</ref>

==Selected works==
*[[Canary Wharf tube station]] in London
*[[The Gherkin]] in London
*[[Reichstag dome|Reichstag Dome]] in Berlin
*[[British Museum#The Great Court emerges (1975–2000)|Great Court of the British Museum]]
*[[Hearst Tower (Manhattan)|Hearst Tower]] in New York
*[[Millennium Bridge, London|Millennium Bridge]] in London
*[[HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong|HSBC Main Building]] in Hong Kong
*[[British Library of Political and Economic Science]] at the [[London School of Economics]]
*[[Saint Moritz#In popular culture|Chesa Futura in St. Moritz]]
*[[Carré d'Art]] in Nîmes
*[[Bilbao metro]]
*[[McLaren Technology Centre]], in Woking, England
*[[Apple Park]] at [[Cupertino]], [[California]]
*[[270 Park Avenue (2025–present)|JPMorgan's HQ]] at [[Manhattan]], [[New York City|New York]]

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Norman_Foster_Coat_of_Arms.svg
|crest = A Pier of the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames proper.
|escutcheon = Azure on a pile reversed throughout engrailed argent a pile reversed throughout engrailed azure with five chevronels reversed or surmounted by a pile reversed throughout argent.
|supporters = On either side statant upon the base of a pier of the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames argent a heron sable.
|motto = '''The Only Constant Is Change'''<ref>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Susan |date=20 April 2020 |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=99tHEAAAQBAJ |location=London |publisher=Debrett's |isbn=9781999767051}}</ref>
|orders = [[Order of Merit]]
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Architecture}}
* [[Peter Rice (structural engineer)|Peter Rice]]
* [[SkyCycle (proposed transport project)]]
* [[List of works by Norman Foster]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book |title=Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture |last=Sudjic |first=Deyan |publisher=Weidenfeld |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-297-85868-3}}

===Documentaries===
* ''How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?'' (dir. Carlos Carcass and Norberto Lopez Amado, 2010, 78 minutes)
* ''Striving for Simplicity'' (Producer: Marc-Christoph Wagner, Copyright: Louisiana Channel, [[Louisiana Museum of Modern Art]], 2015, 41 minutes)

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Design of the 20th Century|first1=Charlotte|last1=Fiell|first2=Peter|last2=Fiell|publisher=Taschen|location=Köln|edition=25th anniversary|year=2005|page=252|isbn=9783822840788|oclc=809539744}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.fosterandpartners.com/ Foster + Partners official website]
* {{Structurae person|id=d000042|name=Lord Norman Robert Foster}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080101073907/http://www.wtc.com/media/videos/Norman%20Foster Interview with Norman Foster(video)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090409144226/http://proyecto.localizarq.es/etiquetas/foster-norman/ Foster's projects on the map]
* [https://www.ted.com/talks/norman_foster_my_green_agenda_for_architecture TED Talks: Norman Foster's green agenda] at [[TED (conference)|TED]] in 2007
* [https://www.normanfosterfoundation.org/] Norman Foster Foundation website
* {{NPG name|id=14849}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Baron Rogan|The Lord Rogan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Foster of Thames Bank'' '''}}
{{s-fol|after=[[Baron Lea of Crondall|The Lord Lea of Crondall]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Pritzker Prize laureates}}
{{Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Norman}}
[[Category:Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank| ]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Stirling Prize laureates]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Manchester School of Architecture]]
[[Category:20th-century English architects]]
[[Category:English designers]]
[[Category:Modernist architects from England]]
[[Category:Pritzker Architecture Prize winners]]
[[Category:Chartered designers]]
[[Category:Foreign members of the Russian Academy of Arts]]
[[Category:Crossbench life peers|Foster of Thames Bank, Norman Foster, Baron]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Merit]]
[[Category:People from Reddish]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Members of the Academy of Arts, Berlin]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)]]
[[Category:High-tech architecture]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal]]
[[Category:Members of the Académie d'architecture]]
[[Category:Members of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Praemium Imperiale]]
[[Category:Architects from Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Yale School of Architecture alumni]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Royal Academicians]]
[[Category:Honorary Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering]]
[[Category:Honorary Fellows of the American Institute of Architects]]
[[Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Peers retired from the House of Lords]]
[[Category:Architects awarded knighthoods]]

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Norman Foster