Sir Norman Foster

Sir Norman Foster has built some of the most exciting and useable buildings and public spaces in the world. His concepts, inspired by fellow architect and visionary Richard Buckminster Fuller, who died 25 years ago this week (1 July 1983), have changed the field of architecture completely.

Foster believes that "green is cool".

In order to realize the green building agenda, he says design and environmental planning, as well as architecture and infrastructure need to be considered together at the community level. His approach to the construction process itself is high-tech and involves off-site prefabrication and sophisticated logistics and planning. For an in-depth presentation, see his presentation at the DLD 2007, Building on the Green Agenda (video, 32 minutes).

Foster + Partners are now building an entire, self-sustaining green city where you would least expect it: in the middle of the desert, 30 kilometres from Abu Dhabi (see "The city of tomorrow" in Spotlight 7/2008).

This week come and explore the brave new building concepts fostered by Sir Norman. Build your vocabulary in translation and reading comprehension exercises.

Anne Hodgson