Norman Foster Foundation

The Norman Foster Foundation joins Porsche AG’s ‘The Art of Dreams’ initiative with a collaboration to be presented during the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.   The 8th Edition of Porsche’s ‘The Art of Dreams’ is envisioned by the Norman Foster Foundation. The collaboration will take place with an architectural installation in Venice at Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia curated by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati.    Titled ‘Gateway to Venice’s Waterways’, the joint endeavour embodies their shared vision on the future of mobility. It shows how design can reconcile the complex demands of modern urban infrastructure with a commitment to sustainability. The project is led by the Norman Foster Foundation, Michael Mauer and Ragnar Schulte from Porsche, Miguel Kreisler, Empty-BAU; and Christopher Hornzee-Jones from Aerotrope Ltd.   ‘Gateway to Venice’s Waterways’ will remain open for the duration of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, from 10 May to 23 November 2025.   Visit https://lnkd.in/dMuKEb4A to learn more about the project!   #BiennaleArchitettura2025 #IntelliGens

Last Friday, the Norman Foster Institute (NFI) team, represented by David González Márquez, Secretary General of the Norman Foster Foundation, Irene Martín Luque, Head of Research of the NFI, and Juan Carlos Calanchini González Cos, Lead Researcher of the NFI, met with Juan Mari Aburto, Mayor of Bilbao, Gonzalo Olabarria, Councillor for Culture and Governance, and Eider Inunciaga, Councillor for Agenda 2030 and International Affairs, among other representatives of the administration, at Bilbao City Hall to present the 'Bilbao Social Boosters' project. The project was presented by Irene Martín Luque and Juan Carlos Calanchini González Cos, pursuing equal distribution of opportunities, activities and capital across all neighbourhoods. The aim is to enrich the city and provide access to its qualities for anyone, anywhere.

Take a look at the first week of the Norman Foster Institute's 2025 Master's Programme on Sustainable Cities. From opening keynotes by Norman Foster and Kent Larson, Co-Directors of the NFI, to seminars on leadership, sustainable urban design and healthy cities—as well as engaging roundtables and student presentations—this first week laid the foundation for addressing the challenges of urbanisation and climate change, paving the way towards more sustainable and resilient cities. https://lnkd.in/dJ26FEK3

The second academic year of the Norman Foster Institute’s Master’s Programme on Sustainable Cities officially commenced this week in Madrid, welcoming students from sixteen nationalities and diverse professional backgrounds, ranging from architecture to journalism. The thirty-six-week programme, organised by the Norman Foster Institute in collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, consists of three stages—Foundations, Transformations and Interventions, with time divided between classrooms, cities and studios. It encourages direct collaboration with city administrations to develop solutions for urban sustainability. This year, the programme expands its focus to Africa, with three pilot cities: Melilla, Cape Town and Freetown. Towards the end of the year, the students will present their findings to the city administrations, with a strong emphasis on advocacy and presentation skills. Throughout the opening week, the students were introduced to the Norman Foster Institute’s academic body through keynotes and seminars delivered by: Norman Foster, Co-Director, Norman Foster Institute (NFI); President, Norman Foster Foundation (NFF), Madrid, Spain; Advocate of the United Nations Forum of Mayors; Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners, London, United Kingdom, who opened the academic year with a keynote emphasising the role of cities in shaping society’s future. Kent Larson, Co-Director, Norman Foster Institute (NFI); Member of the Advisory Board, Norman Foster Foundation (NFF), Madrid, Spain; Director, City Science Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, United States, who explored transformative communities and innovative models for urban living. Diego Lopez Urruchi López Urruchi, Associate Director of the Architecture Unit, Norman Foster Foundation (NFF), Madrid, Spain, who discussed strategies for creating future-proof cities. Glyn Richards, Group Sustainability Director, Bupa, London, United Kingdom, who examined the links between sustainable urban design and public health, highlighting the opportunities for designing healthier cities. Gareth Simons, Head of City Science, Norman Foster Institute (NFI), Madrid, Spain; Senior Research Fellow in Building Stock and Energy Modelling (Energy Institute) and Research Fellow in Evidence Based Urban Design and Planning (Space Syntax), Bartlett, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom, who emphasised evidence-based urban design strategies to enhance walkability, accessibility and sustainability. Amin Taha, Director, Groupwork; Tutor, ADS5 Architecture MA, School of Architecture, Royal College of Art, London, United Kingdom, who presented strategies for achieving carbon-negative architecture through material and design innovation. Maria Vassilakou, Founder, Vienna Solutions; Former Vice Mayor, Vienna, Austria, who discussed the role of social housing in Vienna’s global liveability success.

We are #hiring a Programme Assistant to join the Norman Foster Institute team in Madrid.

The Norman Foster Foundation, alongside UNECE Housing and Land Management Unit and Arup, has collaborated with Kharkiv City Council and local and international experts to develop the masterplan for the reconstruction of Kharkiv, intended as a blueprint for the reconstruction of other Ukrainian cities. As part of this effort, the ‘Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival’ Heritage Competition was launched in September 2024, attracting over eighty entries—including twenty-one from Ukraine. The ten jury members hailed from Ukraine, United Kingdom, India, Spain, Israel and the United States, representing fields such as Architecture, Urban Planning, Transport and History. Collectively, rather than identify one clear winner—and second and third places—the jury decided to give equal weighting and prize money to three projects of equal standing, whose ideas would contribute to a second stage competition, open to new entrants as well as those who had competed in the present competition. The competition is seen as a success, particularly by the local representatives, who found it valuable in starting to redefine their needs—symbolically as well as functionally. The importance of gravitas in any proposal was a theme that recurred in the discussions. The intention now is to create a second competition which will be open to new entrants to further develop the ideas proposed in the first stage. The jury were mindful that, for example, the final design for The Reichstag in Berlin evolved from a competition that morphed into a second stage; a testament to the impact of striving for the future of our cities. To learn more about the prize-winning projects, presented by teams from Australia, Israel, and India; and the student awarded project, presented by a team from the United Kingdom, please visit https://lnkd.in/daE3M62C

This week, the ‘Healthy Cities’ documentary by Bupa premiered, exploring the intricate connections between climate, health and the urban environments we inhabit.   As partners committed to building healthier and more resilient cities, the Norman Foster Foundation and Bupa work together to address these critical challenges. Featuring insights from Norman Foster, President of the Norman Foster Foundation, alongside other experts, the documentary serves as a call to action, inspiring collaboration and innovation for a healthier future for both people and the planet.   Watch now here: https://lnkd.in/dJgwg56c   #NormanFosterFoundation #HealthyCities #Bupa #Sustainability

Shaping a new generation of city-makers The Norman Foster Foundation celebrated today in Madrid the Commencement Ceremony for the first academic year of the Master of Sustainable Cities, organised by the Norman Foster Institute in collaboration with the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. The Ceremony was moderated by Tim Stonor, Advisory Board Member, Norman Foster Foundation, Madrid, Spain; Managing Director, Space Syntax, London, United Kingdom, and included the participation of: - Norman Foster, Co-Director, Norman Foster Institute; President, Norman Foster Foundation, Madrid, Spain - Kent Larson, Co-Director, Norman Foster Institute, Madrid, Spain; Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab City Science Research Group, Cambridge, MA, United States  - Edgar Pieterse, Provost, Norman Foster Institute, Madrid, Spain; Founding Director, African Centre for Cities (ACC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa  - Ricky Burdett, Advisory Board Member, Norman Foster Foundation, Madrid, Spain; Director and Professor of Urban Studies, LSE Cities and Urban Age Programme, London School of Economics (LSE), London, United Kingdom The 2024 students presented the final results of the projects they have worked on throughout the year, from their initial research and data collection to final project proposals for Bilbao, Athens and San Marino. Also present at the event were representatives from the three Pilot Cities, including Juan Mari Aburto, Mayor of Bilbao; Stefano Canti, Minister for Justice for San Marino; and Nikolas Kallianidis, Director of the Department of International Cooperation of Athens. With this first graduating cohort, the Norman Foster Institute and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid reaffirm their commitment to train future civic leaders capable of facing the urban challenges of the twenty-first century. #NormanFosterInstitute #NormanFosterFoundation

Proud to share the second edition of the Healthy and Climate-Resilient Cities report The Norman Foster Institute's Programme on Sustainable Cities is empowering the next generation of urban leaders to place the health and wellbeing of city dwellers at the heart of their designs. This report underscores the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together knowledge and innovation to address the complex challenges of modern urban living. Through such efforts, we are paving the way for cities that are healthier, resilient and sustainable for generations to come. #NormanFosterFoundation #Bupa #Sustainability #HealthyCities

We are honored to announce that the WING display case, designed by Norman Foster with Goppion, has been selected for the ADI Design Index 2023. This selection is significant; each year ADI Associazione per il Disegno Industriale carefully curates innovative projects and products with a commitment to aesthetic refinement, functionality, and technological sophistication. The WING display cases originated as part of Foster’s retrospective at the Centre Pompidou in 2023, in partnership with Foster + Partners and the Norman Foster Foundation. After, they found a permanent home at the Norman Foster Foundation in Madrid, emphasizing their adaptability and enduring design. We are proud to see the WING case recognized for design excellence by ADI. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/edG-epn2