centre pompidou hosts the largest norman foster retrospective

the norman foster retrospective: a six-decade-long overview

The largest retrospective spanning the entire oeuvre of Norman Foster’s work over the last six decades opens at Paris’ Centre Pompidou in the presence of Rima Abdul Malak, the French Minister of Culture, and Laurent Le Bon, President of the Centre Pompidou. 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 designed by Norman Foster and executed in collaboration with Foster + Partners and the Norman Foster Foundation.

Norman Foster | image © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

exploring the architect’s work through seven themes

Curated by Frédéric Migayrou, Deputy Director of the MNAM-CCI (Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre de Création Industrielle), 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.‘

Marseille Vieux Port | image © Edmund Sumner

a unique display of 130 major projects

Drawings, sketches, original scale models, dioramas, and many videos will enable visitors to delve into 130 major 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.

image © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

A 264-page catalog accompanies the expansive exhibition at Centre Pompidou, 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.

Millau Viaduct | image © Daniel Jamme/Eiffage

Lastly, the Bloomberg Connects app offers a free digital guide to the exhibition. Using their personal smartphones or tablets, visitors can scan QR codes within the exhibition space to read or listen to Norman Foster’s personal introductions to each section. They can also explore a wide range of projects in more detail, from never-before-seen videos and drawings to 360 virtual reality tours.

image © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners