Foster + Partners
#FosterplusPartners
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Foster + Partners (also written Foster + Partners) is a world‑leading architectural, engineering and urban‑planning firm founded by Norman Foster in 1967.
Headquartered in London with nearly 2,000 staff and studios globally—including a newly opened office in Seoul’s Samcheong‑dong—it has earned acclaim for iconic, innovative, and sustainable design .
Signature Projects
• 30 St Mary Axe (“The Gherkin”), London – A landmark for energy‑conscious skyscrapers, featuring natural ventilation and a tubular hexagonal envelope .
• 425 Park Avenue, New York – A 47‑storey LEED Gold office tower with a triple‑height lobby, green spaces, and a slender tripartite massing strategy that emphasizes structural elegance .
• 270 Park Avenue, NYC – Set to become the largest all‑electric tower in the city. The sculptural, raised structure is powered fully by renewable energy and prioritizes wellness, natural light, and biophilic design .
• HSBC Headquarters, Hong Kong – A pioneering steel‑and‑glass tower with an open core and external elevators, blending monumental architecture with advanced technology ().
• Apple Park, Cupertino – A naturally ventilated and sustainably designed corporate campus operating on 100% renewable energies .
• Berlin Reichstag extension – Reconstructed with a glass dome symbolizing transparency in democracy .
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Seoul & South Korea Highlights
• New Seoul Studio, Samcheong‑dong – A key regional hub supporting confidential projects and blending Seoul’s cultural heritage with innovative design .
• Live‑Work Tower, Seoul – A 12‑floor mixed‑use building combining personalized live and work spaces, wellness amenities, and private green balconies .
• Incheon Free Economic Zone Masterplan – A sustainable 300 km² development integrating biomass, hydrogen fuel cells, hydroponics, and phased mixed‑use zones connected by transit .
Design Ethos
Foster + Partners’ core philosophy revolves around integrated, technology‑driven, sustainable design. Their Responsibility Framework (FRF) tracks 10 themes including wellbeing, energy, materials, ecology, and circular economy.
They emphasize retrofitting historic structures to reduce carbon emissions and prioritize biophilic, human‑centric environments .
Recognition & Leadership
• The firm has garnered 620 awards and won over 100 competitions .
• Norman Foster remains deeply active despite being over 90, with projects ranging from Apple’s HQ to national memorials.
He’s known for harmonizing industrial-scale systems with aesthetic precision .
Recent & Upcoming Projects
• Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Bridge, St James’s Park, London – A symbolic translucent glass bridge and gardens honoring the late Queen, blending ecological sensitivity with historic respect .
• Old Trafford Masterplan – Redevelopment of Manchester United’s stadium into a “Wembley of the North” with mixed‑use community enhancements .
In short, Foster + Partners continues to shape global architecture by fusing form, function, and sustainability at every scale—from sculptural towers and civic landmarks to comprehensive urban plans and cultural installations.
