Norman Foster: Striving for Simplicity | Louisiana Channel

Summary

In this inspiring transcript, renowned architect Norman Foster reflects on his lifelong passion for design, from childhood fascinations with locomotives and flying to his architectural philosophy. Foster emphasizes the importance of challenging conventions, integrating infrastructure, and creating spaces that enhance the quality of life. He discusses projects like the Reichstag and Apple headquarters, highlighting the balance between complexity and simplicity, and the role of technology and art in architecture. Foster's vision is one of innovation with integrity, aiming to make a positive impact on the world through thoughtful, human-centered design.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The speaker has had a fortunate life with a keen interest in architecture and design from childhood, showing a lifelong passion for buildings and machines.
• 📚 As a child, he was inspired by books and magazines that exposed him to a world beyond his immediate surroundings, sparking his interest in architecture and design.
• 🎨 He sees a close connection between various forms of design such as painting, sculpture, architecture, and transportation, highlighting the interconnectedness of creative fields.
• 🚄 The speaker's fascination with speed and machinery is evident, from his childhood interest in locomotives to his later experiences with flying and high-performance sailplanes.
• 🏙️ Architecture for him is not just about individual buildings but also about the infrastructure and public spaces that connect them, emphasizing the importance of the urban fabric.
• 🛫 His work on projects like the Reichstag and airports shows a commitment to integrating public spaces and rethinking conventional design approaches to create more human-centric environments.
• 🏙️ The design of buildings should go beyond aesthetics to embody stories of construction, reinterpretation of traditional forms, and functional innovation.
• 🌟 He believes in the power of simplicity and legibility in design, aiming to make complex structures understandable and enjoyable for users.
• 💡 The speaker values the role of an architect as a listener and a leader, emphasizing the importance of respecting the process and the people involved in creating a building.
• 🌱 He sees architecture as an expression of values, integrity, and respect, advocating for designs that are warm, domestic, and in harmony with their surroundings.
• 🔧 Technology is viewed as an ally, not a threat, with the potential to be harnessed for positive change in society, including addressing larger issues like shelter and infrastructure in underserved communities.

Q & A

What sparked the architect's early interest in buildings and design?

The architect's early interest in buildings and design was sparked by his fascination with locomotives, cars, and the inner workings of things as revealed through cutaway drawings in magazines like Eagle. He was also inspired by the works of architects like Le Corbusier and books such as 'Towards a New Architecture'.

How did the architect's childhood experiences in Manchester influence his later work?

Growing up in Manchester, the architect was influenced by the industrial suburb and traditional buildings he explored on his bicycle. His interest in architecture was nurtured through sketching, dreaming, and being excited by things outside his workplace.

What role did books play in shaping the architect's perspective on architecture?

Books played a significant role in shaping the architect's perspective by offering a glimpse into a more glamorous world. They exposed him to different architectural styles and ideas, such as 'Towards a New Architecture' by Le Corbusier, and magazines like the Architectural Review.

How does the architect view the relationship between architecture and infrastructure?

The architect sees a close relationship between architecture and infrastructure. He believes that the infrastructure of public spaces, connections, and transportation plays a crucial role in binding together individual buildings and contributes to the quality of life.

What is the architect's approach to designing buildings that go beyond traditional architecture?

The architect's approach involves questioning and challenging traditional models. He seeks to reinvent and redesign conventional building types, such as towers and airports, by breaking with established norms and introducing elements like public spaces and natural light.

How does the architect incorporate simplicity and lightness into his designs?

The architect aims to achieve simplicity and lightness by distilling complexity into a clear, understandable experience for users. He uses elements like natural light and open spaces to create buildings that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

What was the architect's vision for the Reichstag project, and how did it transform the building?

The architect's vision for the Reichstag was to lift the burden of history and transform it into a public space. He incorporated elements like the public space on top of the building, which was not part of the original brief, and preserved the historical graffiti and damage to create a dialogue with the past.

How does the architect approach the design of complex buildings like airports?

The architect approaches complex buildings like airports by focusing on creating a simple and enjoyable experience for users amidst the complexity. He emphasizes natural light, open spaces, and energy efficiency to uplift the spirits and improve the overall experience.

What are the architect's thoughts on the role of art in architecture and life?

The architect believes that art is an integral part of life and can influence architecture by opening up new possibilities and connections. He sees art in various forms, such as the curves of a car or the design of a sailplane, and considers these forms timeless and classic.

What advice would the architect give to a young person interested in studying architecture?

The architect would advise a young person to question, challenge, and have determination, conviction, and passion. He encourages them to rethink, redesign, and reinvent traditional approaches to architecture by going back to basics and questioning from first principles.

How does the architect view the role of technology in architecture and society?

The architect sees technology as an ally rather than a threat. He believes that technology has always been a part of human history and architecture, and it is essential to use technology wisely to address the needs of society and create better living conditions.

Outlines

00:00

🏗️ Architectural Passions and Early Influences

The speaker reflects on their architectural journey, highlighting childhood fascinations with buildings, locomotives, and cars. They mention the influence of magazines and books like 'Towards a New Architecture' by Le Corbusier, which sparked an interest in the dynamic and the functional. The speaker's early love for sketching and dreaming about architecture is evident, as is their realization that architecture could be a profession that aligns with their passions, even to the point of paying to pursue it.

05:01

🚴‍♂️ Childhood Explorations and the Therapeutic Nature of Solitude

The speaker discusses their childhood, emphasizing a sense of being an outsider and a tendency to seek out the countryside and traditional buildings. They describe their love for solitary activities like cross-country skiing and cycling, which they find therapeutic and conducive to introspection. The speaker also talks about their passion for flying, particularly with sailplanes, and sees close links between various forms of design, including painting, sculpture, architecture, and transportation.

10:02

🌆 The Integration of Infrastructure and Architecture

The speaker explores the relationship between infrastructure and architecture, noting the importance of public spaces and how they can influence building design. They give examples of projects like the Reichstag and the viaduct, where public spaces were integrated into the design, creating interactive and accessible areas. The speaker also discusses the concept of challenging traditional architectural models, such as the central core of a tower, and how rethinking these can lead to innovative and functional designs.

15:04

✈️ Airport Design and the Pursuit of Simplicity in Complexity

The speaker delves into the complexities of airport design, discussing the transformation of the conventional terminal concept at Stansted Airport. They highlight the shift from energy-consuming, claustrophobic environments to more open, naturally lit spaces that enhance the user experience. The speaker also touches on the importance of creating joyful and uplifting spaces, emphasizing the role of natural light and the impact on energy efficiency.

20:07

🏛️ The Essence of Architecture: Lightness, Transparency, and Integrity

The speaker discusses the recurring elements in their architectural work, such as light, transparency, and a sense of lightness. They reference the Reichstag project and its symbolic transformation, as well as the importance of creating spaces that are respectful of history and human values. The speaker also emphasizes the role of architecture in providing reassurance and comfort, as exemplified by the design of a cancer center that integrates with its natural surroundings.

25:10

🛠️ The Role of Architecture in Society and the Value of Making

The speaker considers the broader role of architecture in society, discussing the need for balance, respect, humility, and self-confidence in their work. They stress the importance of listening to the needs of a building's users and respecting the process of making. The speaker also reflects on the value of creative energy and the potential for architecture to address larger societal issues, such as providing basic services in underserved communities.

30:11

🏙️ Urban Density, Infrastructure, and the Future of Architecture

The speaker discusses the importance of urban density and the role of high-rise buildings in creating dense, yet connected communities. They advocate for a comprehensive approach to urban planning that includes infrastructure and public spaces. The speaker also expresses a desire to address larger global issues through design, such as providing power and clean water to billions of people, and emphasizes the potential of technology as an ally in achieving these goals.

35:12

🎨 The Influence of Art and Aesthetics in Architectural Design

The speaker reflects on the influence of art in their life and practice, seeing it as an integral part of their family's life. They discuss how art opens up new possibilities and connections, heightening awareness and providing a different dimension to life. The speaker draws parallels between the beauty of a sailplane and the sculptures of Brancusi, emphasizing the timeless and classic nature of great design that transcends time.

40:24

👋 A Message for the Next Generation of Architects

In addressing a younger generation interested in architecture, the speaker encourages questioning, challenging, and having determination, conviction, and passion to make a difference in the world. They express hope that their work will inspire others to rethink and reinvent traditional approaches to design, and that future architects will build upon their ideas to create even better solutions.

Keywords

💡Architecture

Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures. In the video's theme, architecture is central to the speaker's life and passion, as he discusses his journey and experiences in the field. The speaker's fascination with buildings and structures since childhood is evident when he talks about sketching and being excited by machines and speed, which are elements that also find their way into architectural design.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the introduction of new ideas, methods, or products that bring about significant positive changes. The speaker emphasizes innovation in architecture by discussing how he and his team have rethought, redesigned, and reinvented traditional approaches to architectural design. An example from the script is the redesign of the tower in Hong Kong, where the conventional central core was rejected in favor of a fragmented core for better flexibility and spatial freedom.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure encompasses the fundamental physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. The speaker highlights the importance of infrastructure in architecture, noting that individual buildings are interconnected with the larger urban environment through public spaces, transportation, and other elements that bind the city together. The speaker's interest in infrastructure is also evident in projects like the Reichstag, where public space was integrated into the design.

💡Simplicity

Simplicity in the context of the video refers to the pursuit of a clear, understandable, and uncluttered design, even when dealing with complex systems or structures. The speaker mentions the search for simplicity as a way to provide a legible and positive experience for users of the buildings. This is illustrated when discussing the design of airports, where the complex processes behind the scenes are distilled into a simple and joyful experience for travelers.

💡Public Space

Public space is an area that is open and accessible to all, typically used for recreational, social, or cultural activities. The speaker discusses the integration of public space into architectural projects, such as the Reichstag, where public space was introduced on top of the building, and the Apple headquarters, where a large park serves as a communal area. These examples show the speaker's belief in the importance of public spaces for community interaction and well-being.

💡Locomotives

Locomotives are railway vehicles that provide the motive power for trains. The speaker's childhood interest in locomotives is mentioned as a precursor to his fascination with architecture, as he would wait for hours to see special locomotives pass by. This interest in movement and machinery is later reflected in his architectural work, where elements of speed, efficiency, and design are intertwined.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability in architecture involves designing buildings to minimize environmental impact and maximize the efficient use of resources. The speaker touches on sustainability when discussing the redesign of the Stansted airport, where natural light and ventilation were introduced to reduce energy consumption. This approach aligns with the broader theme of creating architecture that is not only functional but also considerate of the environment.

💡Human Values

Human values refer to the moral principles and beliefs that guide behavior and decision-making. The speaker emphasizes the importance of integrity and respect in architecture, suggesting that buildings should reflect these values. For example, the speaker discusses the hospital as an example of a building that should not only be complex in its function but also provide a comforting and reassuring environment for patients.

💡Technology

Technology in the video is discussed as a tool and means for innovation and problem-solving in architecture. The speaker views technology as an ally, not a threat, and highlights its importance in addressing challenges such as providing shelter, sanitation, and power. The speaker's perspective on technology is optimistic, focusing on its potential to improve the quality of life through thoughtful application in architectural design.

💡Creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new and valuable. The speaker talks about the importance of creative energy in architecture, suggesting that it is a key resource alongside money and time. The speaker's own creative process is evident in his approach to design, where he questions conventional methods and seeks innovative solutions, as seen in projects like the Apple headquarters and the redesign of the tower in Hong Kong.

Highlights

The speaker expresses gratitude for opportunities and a lifelong interest in architecture and design.

Childhood fascination with buildings, locomotives, and cars, which later influenced architectural and design thinking.

Influence of magazines like 'Eagle' and architects like Le Corbusier on the speaker's early architectural interests.

The importance of sketching, dreaming, and being excited by things outside one's immediate environment.

The transformative experience of discovering architecture as a profession and the joy of studying it.

The speaker's love for solitary activities like cross-country skiing and cycling, which provide time for reflection.

The connection between different modes of transportation and their influence on architectural design.

The integration of public spaces and infrastructure in architectural design, beyond just individual buildings.

The speaker's belief in the importance of the master plan and the overall concept in architecture.

The pursuit of simplicity and legibility in design, even within complex infrastructure projects.

The impact of personal experiences and values on architectural integrity and the importance of respect and humility.

The role of creativity and the wise use of resources in achieving quality in architecture, regardless of budget.

The speaker's aspiration to address larger societal issues through design, such as providing basic services.

The importance of density and concentration in city planning, drawing lessons from historical examples.

Technology as an ally, not a threat, and its role in innovation and problem-solving in architecture.

The integral role of art in the speaker's life and its influence on architectural and design practices.

The timeless nature of certain designs and their connection to art, transcending the style of their time.

The speaker's hope that his work will inspire future generations to question, challenge, and innovate in architecture.

Transcripts

I've been tremendously fortunate in all

kinds of ways

architectural II my family but I'm

always really looking forward so I find

it difficult to kind of stop pause and

take stock other than to realize that

I've been given many opportunities

you

I think as a child I'd always been

interested in buildings I had always

been interested in things locomotives I

would stand for hours waiting for a

locomotive to pass and there were

special locomotives with name plates and

they were just goods trains and you

waited patiently for the really special

ones and cars who always had a an

attraction and and artist when I was a

child in Manchester I was aware of of

Lowrey for example so whether its weekly

magazines like eagle with cutaway

drawings which reveal the inner workings

of the all all the things that move and

and have a dynamic so perhaps all the

things that excited the Italian

futurists at the beginning of the of the

century and which in many ways have also

inspired other architects the Corbusier

for example had a romance with with

flying machines and devoted a book to it

and it was one of his books that I

discovered in my local lending library

that towards a new architecture but it

was the juxtaposition of classical

architecture with fast hydroplanes and

so so as a child I was I mean I remember

sketching and I remember being enthused

and excited by these machines and and

speed we had an early love for books I

read as well what did you find in books

which you did not find

around the books were really of another

more glamorous world I mentioned towards

a new architecture but it could be in

the nature of materials Henry Russell

Hitchcock or later it could be 1950s

copies of the architectural review

showing the landscapes of Birla Marx in

South America

Niemeyer and and works in Scandinavia at

the time so so running through this even

though my workplace was far removed from

the world of architecture in Manchester

Town Hall because I left school at 16

and then I did national service for two

years so really running as a thread

through all of these different things

was my own private world of sketching

dreaming enthusing being excited by all

the things outside my workplace so if

you can imagine that discovering the

possibility of being an architect

studying to be an architect discovering

a school of architecture an architect

studio that was no longer work work was

something that you went to to earn money

to pay into the family so so in that

sense to be able to discover that the

things that excited me the one could do

those I mean I would pay to do it and I

did literally pay to do it last question

on childhood because in some biographies

we all I played a lot of football did a

lot of sports in my

with you I don't know but I got the feel

that you always kind of were searching

looking into different worlds already

was it because those worlds were so

interesting or were you escaping the

actual world around and I never thought

of it at the time of escaping the world

around me I mean the world around me was

a kind of industrial suburb of

Manchester and and so if I would go off

on my bicycle into the countryside to

discover the countryside and and

traditional buildings interestingly

although I probably wouldn't have been

articulate on that at the time so

there's a degree of perhaps post

rationalization there but I was in all

kinds of ways an outsider I mean I never

got into team sports and and so the

whole sports thing which fascinates me I

mean I love cross-country skiing for the

last I don't know 20 odd years I've been

doing annually a cross-country ski

marathon with 11 or 12,000 other people

and I do a kind of marathon bike ride

with a group of friends and that's

incredibly social but apart from that

most of my cycling is a kind of solitary

thing and I find that also quite

therapeutic I mean it's a zen-like thing

the relationship between myself the

Machine whether it's the skis whether

it's a cycle and I also use that time to

be to be thinking to be cross-examining

so in one sense it's a release

in another sense it's a change of place

but it's also a kind of inner discovery

when I really find time because a lot of

my time is with teens with groups going

to building sites and engaging with

really interesting people who who have

the need of a building and I find that

that dialogue absolutely central to to

the design process

you

I started flying with sailplanes

high-performance sailplanes

which is solar flight I mean you fly

vast distances at high speeds with no

with no engine I mean pure solar driven

by nature and and I've gone on to pilot

many different kinds of craft flying

machines helicopters micro lights fast

yet and about 75 different types for me

there are very I wouldn't say it's

seamless but there are very very close

links between our painting sculpture

architecture design aircraft automobiles

locomotives it's that's a seamless world

perhaps over time I've become much more

I've realized the important links

between individual buildings and

infrastructure the infrastructure of

public spaces of connections of

Transportation bridges terminals the the

kind of all the sort of urban glue that

binds together the individual buildings

that's not to say I'm still not

passionate about architecture obviously

I'm totally driven by it but the bigger

picture is arguably even more more

important the master plan the concept I

mean your journey here from Denmark will

be your memory will be the route the

journeys the path that you took from

your home the way back the street

the connections the terminal the airport

that will be and and that determines the

quality of life in the same way that the

individual building determines that oh

it's a huge influence in there I get

your point but in this let's say

complexity of infrastructure of

traveling still meeting your building's

you meet a kind of simplicity and I mean

that in the positive sense of the world

yeah and simplicity strikes me when

we're flying for example this kind of

weightlessness yeah it's very

complicated flying but at the same time

it's very simple

yes it's it it is that essence of light

lightness and that I think in spirit

touches a lot of the buildings I think

probably the best buildings that we've

done are those which have those

qualities but when I was talking about

infrastructure I suppose I was saying

that that as a designer I feel that that

we've gone beyond architecture and the

interest in infrastructure has

influenced the architecture of the

individual buildings so if I took you

around each of these models I talked

about the public space on top of the

Reichstag they never asked for public

space it was never part of the concept

there their brief there was a model of

the viaduct where you've seen to fly

through the sky you're literally in the

clouds and if we look at the individual

towers here you'll find that the public

domain the public space penetrates those

buildings there's an interaction

so that interest in the city and

infrastructure manifests itself in

designs which go beyond the architecture

and which influence when it is pure

architecture influences the architecture

you

it probably has a dominant theme it

probably has a dominant story but the

building will embody several different

stories there'll be the story perhaps of

how it's made there'll be the story of

how it might reinterpret a how can I say

if you if if you think about a tower or

you think about a conventional airport

it may reexamine that building type and

come up with something which is

different but different not just for the

sake of being different but different

for a good reason so if you take a tower

conventionally has a central core when

we question that on the building

immediately behind me the Hong Kong bank

there were very good reasons for

rejecting that model even though if you

analyze pretty well every tower on the

planet it would have a central core so

we broke with that tradition we

reinvented the tower by fragmenting the

core putting it on the end again you can

see it so you have free space so you can

see from one side to the other it's not

blocked and it's flexible so you could

put even a dealer's room which would be

unthinkable in a tower and that's

exactly what they did many years later

or you could consider an airport like

Stansted which again questioned the

conventional idea of a terminal which

was that it was a sandwich of space and

the roof had a lot of ducks with their

handling plant on the top which cooled

the air

lots of electric lighting then because

you've got no natural light so you've

got the heat load of the light

very energy consuming and not very nice

I mean claustrophobic

which is why airports had such a bad

name when we reconsidered that and put

all the air handling at the bottom

underneath so that you could open the

top to natural light and sun bite so for

most of the time you didn't need

electric light you suddenly had

something that was joyful that would

uplift the spirits and suddenly becomes

popular with the most important people

who were the paying customers it's also

energy efficient now I can if I describe

that I'm describing several different

stories and telling you one about energy

consumption I'm telling you one about

joy I'm telling you one about how you

build a building and I'm telling you

another about how you question and

challenge looking at your buildings you

find some elements that come again in a

game like you have talked about light

already a certain lightness as well

transparents sometimes that's almost

spiritual I mean I think that the task

of the Reichstag was in a way lifting

the burden of history and and Christo

and Jean Claude's wrapping was

symbolically very important in that

process so it was philosophically

confronting history keeping the graffiti

the civic vandalism the marks of the

Mason these attacks by bullets and

shells but somehow transforming that

lightning it and involving the public

and the politicians are answerable to

the public so in a way creating the

public space at the top and the ability

to have a

coffee terrorist meal but at the time I

mean that now is hugely popular I mean

the queue is just go on forever

everybody wants to go there but at the

time it was very contentious mean

politicians were saying as a group why

would anybody want to go onto the roof

and if they got there why would they

want to stay and have a coffee and then

of course it's not big enough because so

many people want to go there so that

turns into another question why didn't

you make it bigger

you

you

am I wrong thinking that with every

project that you do despite of the

complexity of it you want to end up with

a simplicity that contains the

complexity I think it's a search for it

it's a search for legibility it's a

search for a simple analog experience in

a digital world so a building type like

an airport is unbelievably complex in

terms of what happens behind the scenes

there are so many different interests

the movement of baggage security all the

things that you don't see so how do you

somehow through a complex process

distill it down it's a bit like somebody

saying I can write you an essay I can

write you a long letter but to write a

poem that's that's a tough one

so how do you distill all that

complexity down so that for the people

who really matter you make it as great

an experience as you can and in some

ways these buildings at an epic scale

Beijing the largest in the world at the

moment

how do you it's actually a compact

building when you think about it and if

you take the Apple headquarters which is

a very large circular building with a

great green heart set in a huge park

everybody's reaction quite reasonably is

I mean it's a huge building but what

you're not seeing is what would normally

happen for a campus a campus would be

could be up to 30 buildings and then all

the movement between that the

like Beijing Airport Beijing Airport in

other cities where the airports have

grown up over time on a whole series of

separate buildings and then the movement

between there is buildings and the

baggage between those buildings it's not

much fun so if you if it's Apple what do

you prefer to walk between on asphalt

through cars from one building on one

side of the site to the other or to be

able to jog cycle walk in a great park

and have proximity to your colleagues

because you're trying to create a family

entity albeit a very very large building

for a very large family would you rather

move under one roof like an artificial

sky or would you rather go from one

terminal through a maze of roads jungle

of cars lorries trucks I mean it's a so

and obviously it's human nature we're

all interested in the tallest the

longest the biggest but for every one of

those I mean next week for example we're

doing the groundbreaking for a small

building in Manchester and that's a

Maggie's Cancer Centre and its really a

big house and and they're learning a lot

from my time long past but which I

continue to revisit learning a lot from

Scandinavia in terms of something which

is of this time modern but warmth and

domestic and at one with the landscaping

I mean a great tradition and I remember

as a student seeing work of architects

who were not named architects outside of

Denmark like Kai fisca and and I think

if you see that building you'll

understand what

saying it's translated in a way which is

different yes I mean people have said

well it looks like an aircraft wing the

timber structure or it looks as if

you're influenced by proven well of

course I am but it is an essay in

homeliness because if you've been

diagnosed with cancer you want a

reassuring environment if somebody is

going to be counseling you and and

flowers are are important if you go to a

hospital always find fresh flowers you

bring flowers to a patient so that's an

integral part of the building the

greenhouse so the flowers are produced

within the same structure same structure

grows through but there's more glass

around a part of it so it it creates a

little hothouse for but that's another

story you see you once said that

architecture is about values as well

what does this I think that architecture

is about integrity is about human values

is about respect for those and maybe

difficult to articulate but when when a

building resonates in a certain way it

may have an integrity of structure it

may have an integrity of form

I think the hospital is a very good

example I mean again it is like an

airport hugely complex and that can

produce a very complex building so it

then is taken for granted that the

hospital experience is a complex and

perhaps inevitably frightening

experience in the way that the airport

used to be a fright

experience but it doesn't need to be

that I'm absolutely sure of and I say

that as a past patient having spent time

in hospitals and very grateful that I've

emerged to continue life beyond that

experience I think really in every

aspect of life in every walk of life you

need the balance between a certain

degree of respect and humility and to do

what you do for me to do what I do as an

architect a degree of of self-confidence

because you are leading a team you're

expected to UM and that's why I said

earlier that I think one aspect of the

architects task is to be a good listener

and-and-and to hear the many voices that

the needs that that building will will

answer and and also to respect the

process of making the nobility of making

that's not fashionable but and and in

that sense quality is an attitude of

mind it's not how much money you spend

on a building you've got you've got

really three resources you've got money

you've got time and you've got creative

energy and it's the creative energy it's

the attitude of how you use those

resources as wisely as possible and some

of the great buildings in the world have

been achieved when in the face of

economic hardship some of the best

buildings in the world a kind of

overnight miracles they've been created

very quickly some of the worst buildings

in the world have had money thrown at

them

and they're awful

you

you're turning 80 in some weeks and

you're very lively you have been through

a period where you've been sick but we

all know that there will probably not be

80 years left so what remains mr. foster

I I continue to do what I do I'm fired

I'm passionate about designing I know

that for the privilege of designing you

also pay the price for having to do

quite a lot of other things which don't

necessarily come so naturally and don't

give you the same degree of pleasure but

they kind of come with the with the task

I suppose that if if there was the

opportunity to I think that buckminster

fuller's analogy of the trim tab the

little tab on the big control surface

which equalizes the forces and enables

the bigger elements to move because of

the small kind of catalyst effect then

it would be great if if we could address

some of those bigger issues design as a

tool to address shelter in the big

picture I mentioned the the project for

der RV and there the proposition was

that you might be able to recycle to add

the basic services which don't exist

like sanitation power water but you

could respect the urban structure which

had grown up

no settlements because they're quite of

course they have their darker side but

you have to remember that people have

come

they've congregated in these areas

because they offer greater hope greater

prosperity from the challenge of how you

transform settlements like that which

relate to a huge percentage of the

world's population and I believe that

there are alternatives more human

alternatives more subtle alternatives to

getting the big bulldozers you know

raising it to the ground and then

transporting those communities into into

other modern buildings so I think that

the answer to your short question which

was rather long answer would be that

we've built airports we're still excited

by those challenges we built towers were

excited by that we're doing a lot of

small community buildings excited by

that

but the bigger issues are not really

addressed by by architects and that's

we're talking about billions of people

and those are the people who need power

they need clean water and how do you

achieve that

so those to be able in some small way to

make a contribution in that direction

that I think would be very satisfied and

their density is quite an important

factor isn't it well the city is about

density so it's and it's about

concentration and and there are certain

lessons again from history George in

London with row houses walk-up for five

storeys maximum around gardens which

were semi public so public spaces like

parks

dense communities high-rise as

appropriate but not lost in a sea of

neglected space but part of a weapon in

a wider armory if you like but that's

coming back to the bigger picture and

that's where our conversation really

started which was the importance of

infrastructure do you think technology

in the end is an ally or a threat to our

society technology can never be a threat

I mean technology as a means so the

history of architecture the history of

humanity coming out of the cave into a

dwelling is a story of technology of

innovation the high tech buildings of

the past the cathedrals the amiracle 's

of technology

well of course any technology you can

turn from violent aggressive you can

turn into something which is violent and

aggressive but that's probably true of

anything you can use medicine to cure

you can use medicine to poison you can

as Bucky put it you can convert the

killing machine into the living machine

and and that was some of the endeavors

after after the war to harness but

that's also true of all of space travel

and space exploration so so it's really

it's how you use the technology but you

come you can't move forward you can't

answer the needs we can't be protected

in here when it's raining or snowing or

cool in here when we open the windows

and it's baking hot out

that's a technological response and the

technology is changing all the time so

the challenge is to turn it to our

advantage

looking out of the window I see

sculptures I see art it's an integral

part of our lives as a family as

individuals it's completely woven in in

the same way that those inspirations

influences subconscious perhaps

subliminal but they're there we're all a

victim of of influences or victim is the

wrong word we're we're all products if

you like of influences and what could

can you / belies what art does to you

and your practices archetype in your

life why is it important I think it's an

other way of looking at forms of life I

think that it opens you to see new

possibilities to make connections it

makes you it heightens your sense of of

awareness it's another dimension and

again there are certain artifacts there

are certain cars you can see the curve

of the back and there's a sort of

sensuous quality to that that for me is

is art I was looking at an exhibition of

locomotives each one must have been

lovingly created and everything works

it's miniaturized series I mean just I

mean labors of love and for me those are

pure the sailplane is as beautiful as

the Brancusi

the Brancusi and the bocce oni the

figure flowing in space those are

inseparable from the best cars of the

period the Chrysler airflow is

inseparable from the Chrysler Building

of Van Alen the streamlined forms of the

Burlington Zephyr and the

10,000 in the 30s which heralded a new

high performance again lighter form of

locomotion those are inseparable from

the these incredible works by artists

around 1913 so the kind of magic years

but there's all of these things they're

timeless they go beyond the style of a

certain time they're their classics

last question

my son is 70 years old and he's quite

interested in architecture and books and

I imagine him a little bit like you as a

young boy he kind of looks at books and

he's totally away so if he decided to

study architecture and he in his study

would fall about a book you as an

architect Alan Foster what would you

like a boy like him to remember you as

an architect in 20 30 40 years time I'd

like to feel the from conversations like

this or perhaps film books buildings

that that he becomes aware that by

questioning and by challenging and by

having a degree of determination and

conviction and enthusiasm and passion

that you really can make a difference to

the world and the everyday world that we

all live in and that that can make a

difference and that he could in turn

along with his colleagues make a

difference in the future but if he would

be looking at a book by you like you

looked at the books oblique Oh

what do you think will fascinate him

about you and your architecture I think

it it might be the way that we have

rethought redesigned reinvented the

otherwise conventional what was

considered to be a traditional way of

doing something and that we done that by

going back to roots going back to basics

and questioning from first principles so

what would be fantastic for your son is

that if he was able to do that and be

able to tear up what we've done and do

something which we discovered another

better way of doing it

you

you

you