Norman Foster – a new vision for the modern city

Now renowned as one of the world’s most famous contemporary architects, Norman Foster worked hard to reach his goals. Born in 1935 to working class parents in Manchester, England, the chance of a university education at first seemed unlikely.

Convinced initially by his father to apply for Manchester Town Hall’s trainee scheme in order to find a good job after leaving school, Foster was lucky that a clerk there spotted his designs, done while sitting bored at his desk, and encouraged him to consider a career in architecture.

The Willis Building in Ipswich

After completing his National Service in 1953, Foster found work as an assistant with the Manchester firm fo architects, John Beardstow, and took every opportunity to quiz colleagues about the profession since he had no money to spare for formal tuition. In due course, he won promotion to the drawing department and with the help of income from part-time jobs, including selling ice cream, Foster found a way to study and was later awarded the Henry Fellowship to attend Yale.

When growing up, Foster had been fascinated by engineering, particularly trains and aircraft. Living in an industrial city like Manchester, with its distinctive buildings, also inspired him. During his studies, he subsequently came across the likes of the famous American, Frank Lloyd Wright, who had developed the idea of organic architecture – a building that sits in harmony with its environment. Other influences included pioneers of modern architecture such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier.

Despite begin strongly influenced by the past, Foster is always looking ahead. “As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown,” he has said.