Foster + Partners: Designing buildings that make a difference

Architecture has the ability to design skylines and influence environments. As global cities face the effects of climate change, rapid urbanization, and evolving patterns of living and working, architecture has taken on greater responsibility to ensure that buildings are designed to stand the test of time. This means the design of buildings needs to go beyond their appearance or engineering prowess but also consider environmental impact, resilience, and ability to improve people’s lives. For renowned architecture and design firm Foster + Partners, these considerations have long been central to its design philosophy.

Founded in London in 1967, the global studio for sustainable architecture, urbanism, engineering and design has built notable projects around the world such as the Gherkin in London, Apple Park in California and Berlin’s Reichstag, to name a few. According to the company’s founder and executive chairman Norman Foster, the studio’s practice was founded on a philosophy of innovation, sustainability and design, emphasizing the need to “learn from the past and creatively embrace the challenges of the future”.

Innovation that anticipates change

Over the years, Foster + Partners has embraced technological innovation to solve complex architectural challenges, combining advanced engineering with elegant, efficient design. The company is known for its high-performance buildings that maximize natural light, improve energy efficiency, and integrate cutting-edge technologies without compromising aesthetics. Rather than using technology as an end in itself, Foster + Partners employs it to create buildings that are more comfortable, adaptable, and environmentally responsible.

Aligned with its push for continued innovation, the company has maintained a commitment to research, ensuring that it is not only up to date with new developments and techniques but is also able to thoroughly evaluate the relevance and technical performance of various projects. This effort is central to the company’s ethos of having an appetite for enquiry, discovery and understanding.

As part of its commitment to research, the company has built an integrated multi-disciplinary team of architects and engineers, who are also expert programmers for its initiatives on applied research and development. Additionally, the architectural studio also houses a materials research centre aimed at evaluating current and new materials, products and technologies used for projects.

Sustainability as a core principle

Long before sustainable architecture became an industry priority, Foster + Partners recognized that responsible design must consider both environmental impact and long-term resilience. Acknowledging crucial concerns about climate change, the company has put an emphasis that its projects must also encompass the health and wellbeing of communities. The global firm said it works closely with clients to develop bespoke design solutions that are optimized for their operations and the planet.

As part of its efforts towards sustainability, Foster + Partners has specialist in-house teams that conduct carbon impact assessments, environmental analysis, materials research, landscape and workplace design, and environmental and structural engineering. The groups collaborate with the company’s design teams to develop sustainable frameworks and identify environmental targets for a healthier world.

Additionally, the company has developed the Foster + Partners Responsibility Framework (FRF) to measure the sustainability performance of a project and also serves as a tool to capture key data, in a bid to ensure that progress across all projects can be tracked, audited and reported. The framework covers themes such as wellbeing, community impact, energy and carbon, and resources, among others.

Moreover, the company also assesses the environmental performance of its projects and develops innovative, future-proof solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change.

“Our design approach addresses sustainability holistically, from efficient use of natural resources, circular economy strategies and biophilia to thermal comfort and indoor air quality. We seek to leverage the power of design to enhance the lived experience for all,” the global architecture studio said on its website.

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