the ‘norman foster’ retrospective will span six decades
The largest retrospective spanning the entire oeuvre of Norman Foster’s work over the last six decades will open at the Centre Pompidou in Paris this coming May. Covering nearly 2,200 sqm, the exhibition reviews the different periods of the architect’s work, highlighting seminal projects, such as the headquarters of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (Hong Kong, 1979-1986), the Carré d’Art (Nîmes, 1984-1993), Hong Kong International Airport (1992-1998) and Apple Park (Cupertino, United States, 2009-2017). Running from May 10 to August 7, 2023, the retrospective is being designed by Norman Foster and executed in collaboration with Foster + Partners and the Norman Foster Foundation.
Marseille Vieux Port | image © Edmund Sumner
exploring the architect’s work through seven themes
The Norman Foster retrospective at Centre Pompidou explores the architect’s work through the prism of seven themes: Nature and Urbanity; Skin and Bones; Vertical City; History and Tradition; Planning and Place; Networks and Mobility and Future. ‘This exhibition traces the themes of sustainability and anticipating the future,’ shares Foster.
‘The birth of the practice in the 1960’s coincided with the first signs of an awareness of the fragility of the planet. These were the green shoots of what would later be named The Green Movement. These principles may now be mainstream, but more than half a century ago, they were revolutionary and anticipated the reality of today. Throughout the decades, we have sought to challenge conventions, reinvent building types and demonstrate an architecture of light and lightness, inspired by nature, which can be about joy as well as being eco-friendly.‘
Millau Viaduct | image © Daniel Jamme/Eiffage
a unique display of 130 major projects
Drawings, sketches, original scale models, dioramas, and many videos will enable visitors to delve into 130 significant projects. Indeed, welcoming visitors at the entrance to the Norman Foster retrospective, a drawing gallery showcases items never seen before in France, consisting of drawings, sketchbooks, sketches, and photographs taken by the architect. Illustrating a resonance with Foster’s architecture, the display includes works by Fernand Léger, Constantin Brancusi, Umberto Boccioni, and Ai Weiwei, along with industrial creations, such as a glider and several classic automobiles, which have often served as sources of inspiration.
Lastly, a 264-page catalog accompanies the exhibition, depicting eighty of the architect’s most significant projects. This monograph features three portfolios showcasing Foster’s early sources of inspiration, projects conducted in collaboration with Richard Buckminster Fuller, and other drawings and sketches. This collective volume is published by Editions du Centre Pompidou under the direction of Frédéric Migayrou, curator of the retrospective.
Newport School | © The Norman Foster Foundation
Carré d’Art, Nîmes | image © James Morris