Architecture

Pritzker Prize-winning British architect Norman Foster is famous for "High Tech" design that explores technological shapes and ideas. In addition to winning the world's most prestigious awards for architecture, he has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Born:

June 1, 1935 in Manchester, England

Early Life of Sir Norman Foster:

Born in a working class family, Norman Foster did not seem likely to become a famous architect. Although he was a good student in high school and showed an early interest in architecture, he did not enroll in college until he was 21 years old. Foster won numerous scholarships during his years at Manchester University, including one to attend Yale University in the United States.

Education of Sir Norman Foster:

Sir Norman Foster's Partnerships:

At the beginning of his career, Foster worked as a member of the successful "Team 4" firm with his wife, Wendy Foster, and the husband and wife team of Richard Rogers and Sue Rogers. His own firm, Foster Associates, was founded in London in 1967.

Important Buildings by Sir Norman Foster:

Awards and Honers:

Related People:

More About Sir Norman Foster:

Foster Associates became known for "High Tech" design that explored technological shapes and ideas. In his work, Sir Norman Foster often uses off-site manufactured parts and the repetition of modular elements. The firm frequently designs special components for these high-tech modernist buildings.

Daniel Libeskind's original plans were adapted to create this vision of Freedom Tower at the new World Trade Center site on Ground Zero in New York City.

Disney is not just for kids. When you visit any of the Disney theme parks or hotels, you'll find buildings designed by some of the world's leading architects.

Typically, theme park architecture is -- well -- thematic. Borrowing popular motifs from history and fairy tales, theme park buildings are designed to tell a story. At the Disney theme parks, the architects may:

• strive for historic authenticity and recreate historic buildings, or
• take a whimsical approach and exaggerate storybook images, or
• create subtle, abstract images.

How? Check out the work of these top Disney architects:

• Peter Dominick
• Charles Gwathmey
• Robert A M Stern
• Philip Johnson
• Cesar Pelli
• Michael Graves
• Arata Isozaki
• Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown

One of the best sources for in-depth information on buildings at Disney resorts world-wide is Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture, by Beth Dunlop. This 208 page book includes interviews with architects, drawings and color photos, and a helpful bibliography.

But, while you're admiring the work of these great architects, don't forget to go on that Thunder Mountain Ride. At Disney theme parks, even the roller coasters are artfully designed.

Location: New York, over the East River connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn
Opened: May 24, 1883
Type: Suspension bridge with cable-stays
Length: 1,825 meters / 5,989 feet
Designer: John Augustus Roebling
Engineer: Washington Roebling, and then Washington's wife, Emily Warren Roebling

About the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Designer John A. Roebling had designed important suspension bridges in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. Tragically, Roebling was injured while surveying the property and died of tetanus before the bridge was built. His son, Washington Roebling completed the design and briefly supervised the engineering, but he also died. Fourteen years after it began, the project was completed by Washington Roebling's wife, Emily Warren Roebling.

When the Brooklyn Bridge opened, crushing foot traffic, fired by a rumor that the bridge was about to collapse, stirred a stampede that killed twelve and injured thirty-five people.

This photo of Brooklyn Bridge was taken before the World Trade Center Twin Towers (in background) were destroyed.

More About the Brooklyn Bridge

• Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
• Historic Images of the Brooklyn Bridge
• Visitors Guide to the Brooklyn Bridge

After a devastating storm, an attractive solution for low-cost housing...

Beitucheng Station, the transfer station of Line 10 and the Olympic Branch Line, opened for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.