The piece called him ‘the great architect’, ‘Britain’s best-known architect’ and ‘the nation’s most remarkable architect’ all in a single article marking the latest trophy to adorn his mantlepiece: the London Design Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Medal.
Little of what he said will come as a surprise to AJ readers – with one exception.
When the conversation turned to the next generation, Foster explained that ‘young talent is at the heart of this practice’. The nonagenarian went on: ‘I’m privileged to work with contemporary colleagues and predominantly younger individuals.’
Hold on one second. ‘Predominantly?’ Astragal imagined a stooped caretaker, perhaps, hailing from the early 1930s, toiling away in the basement at Fosters’ Battersea HQ. Sadly, it was not to be. A spokesperson for the practice confirmed that Norman is the firm’s oldest employee.
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When he turned 90 earlier this summer, Foster told the AJ he had ‘everything left to achieve’. Among those prize projects on the horizon is a new 100,000-capacity arena for his hometown club, Manchester United.
When Foster + Partners revealed images in March of the proposed mega-structure, the famous club’s billionaire co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, hailed it as the ‘world’s greatest football stadium’. Back of the net for Foster. Or so it seemed.
However, a club statement unearthed within the minutes of a fan forum held in June suggests a final deal to deliver the new ground has not yet been officially signed.
‘Illustrative concepts [from March] were produced to help shape thinking and demonstrate the transformative potential of a new stadium,’ said the document. ‘A formal process to appoint a stadium architect is underway, and […] will be made following appropriate due diligence.’
Despite his Manchester roots and experience with Wembley Stadium, could Foster unexpectedly find himself on the subs bench when the action begins?
What’s more, doubts are emerging about whether the large tent-like structure, initially proposed by Foster to sit as a giant umbrella above the new stadium and its surroundings, will survive as the designs evolve.
This multimillion pound ‘circus tent’ – as reported by The Daily Mail – could be ditched due to issues with ‘purchasing surrounding land [which has] caused Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Co to consider other options’.
With current team manager Ruben Amorim also facing an uncertain future, could there be a double change at the (big) top?