Norman Foster was born in Cheshire in 1935. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Manchester, England. They were quite poor. His studies began in the UK and ended in the US. Upon his return to the UK he set up Team 4, a company which quickly earned an international reputation for its high-tech industrial design. He is one of the UK’s most prolific architects. Foster was knighted in 1990, appointed to the Order of Merit, and elevated to the level of peerage in 1999. Foster has earned too many awards to mention here. As it was in 1967, the average age in his firm is 32; Foster likes to attract young blood. Archdaily states that if Foster was a household item, he’d be a swiss army knife.





Willis Faber & Dumas Headquarters 1975
One of Foster’s earlier buildings. Now a landmark of the High Tech architecture style.




HSBC Main Building, Hong Kong, 1985
The most important factor in its construction is the lack of internal supporting structure.




Reichstag Building Dome, Berlin, Germany, 1999
The original design did not include this now iconic done.




City Hall, London, England, 2002
The building has a bulbous shape designed to reduce it’s foot print and increase its energy efficiency. Built with much glass, its assembly chamber can be seen from outside – symbolic of transparency in government.




30 St Mary Axe, London, England, 2004
Known as the Gherkin it is one of London’s most recognized examples of contemporary architecture.




Millau Viaduct, Millau, France, 2004
The tallest bridge in the world. It is the result of a Franco-British partnership.




Hearst Tower, NYC, 2006
At 300 West 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan is the headquarters of Hearst Communications.




Wembley Stadium, London, England, 2007
Created in a manner to honour the past but clearly designed with the future in mind.




Torre Cepsa, Madrid, Spain, 2009
This 45 storey building is the second tallest in the Cuatro Torres Business Area complex.




Khan Shatry Entertainment Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan, 2010
It is the worlds tallest tensile struture. The three layer construction is designed to shelter those inside whether the weather be 35 or -35. It houses leisure facilities.




Apple Park, Cupertine,California, 2017
The project started with Steve Jobs in 2006 and has just recently been completed. The 260,000 square meters building houses 12,000 employees.

Refill your coffee cup and enjoy this 9-minute video tour, orchestrated by Architectural Digest, of Zedd’s recently acquired Beverly Hills Estate. It’s quite the little place! Alright I admit it I don’t know who Zedd is! But seemingly, he is doing very well: an estate in Beverly Hills, the cover of Forbes and who knows what else.

John Nash was born in 1752 and died in 1835. He is the architect responsible for much of Regency London, working with the Prince of Wales, who subsequently became the Prince Regent, then George IV. He was the pioneer of the Picturesque in architecture. The Picturesque aesthetic took inspiration from a classical style then embelished it to the point of excess.

His style was classical or rather neo-classical but he did not hesitate to mix things up and add his own touches thus creating a rather eclectic, yet cohesive look. He is best remembered for The Royal Pavilion, Buckingham Palace, and the Mall.

In 1806 he was appointed the architect to the Surveyor General of Woods, Forests, Parks, and Chases. From that point on he dedicated his career to assisting George IV realize his vision. Having focused his work with George IV, upon the Monarch’s death Nash’s career was essentially over. He was a Public Servant and so after the King’s death he was brought to court for what seemed to be his total disregard for budgets. Subsequently, he was let go. His name having been tarnished it was difficult for him to find more work. Not the knighthood he had expected for helping create Buckingham Palace.



Royal Pavilion Indo-Saracenic Style, 1815
Also known as Brighton Pavilion it was built as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales (later Prince Regent, then Geoge IV).





Piccadilly Circus, 1819
It is a link between Shaflesbury Avenue and Haymarket, Coventry Stret





Regent’s Canal, 1820
Nash produced the master plan for the Canal.





Park Crescent, 1821
These elegant, stuccoed terraced homes form a semicircle at the north end of Partland Place and south of Marylebone Road





Theatre Royal Haymarket, 1821
Also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre is the third-oldest London playhouse.





Hanover Terrace, 1822
Hanover Terrace was designed in the Doric order the building overlooks Regent’s Park and consists of a centre block and two wings.





Park Square, East, 1824
These large elegant stuccoed terraced houses form one of the largest private squares in London





All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, 1824
Its circular spired vestible was created as a monument near Regent Street it links Picadilly and Regent’s Park.





Regent Street, 1825
Is a major shopping street in the West End of London.





Royal Mews,1825
The Mews is paved in red to create the impression of a red carpet leading to Buckingham Palace.





Marble Arch, 1827
The arch was previously the ceremonial entrance to Buckingham Palace





Clarence House, 1830
Previously home to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother it is now the residence of Chales, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.





Cumberland Terrace, 1835
This neoclassical terrace is adjacent to Regent’s Park





Trafalgar Square, 1844
This square has been used for public gatherings and political demonstrations since the 13th century.





Out of chronological order, but on what felt like a suitable note to end a post about John Nash:

Buckingham Palace – Western Facade – 1825
The Palace is the Monarch’s principal state residence. George IV was close to 60 when his father died. Contrary to his father he was very extravagant, in fact his extravagance knew no bounds. He had much to accomplish late in life when it came to the work required for Buckingham Palace.





Buckingham Palace – Blue Drawing Room
The 19 state rooms of Buckingham Palace were designed by Nash. I suspect they could be a post of their own!




Buckingham Palace – Throne Room
The Queen and Prince Philip have only sat on these thrones once, on the day of her conoration. Around the room other thrones belonging to previous monarchs.




Buckingham Palace – White Drawing Room



Should you wish to know more, below a link to a YouTube video principally about Buckingham Palace.

Richard Neutra was born in Vienna, Austria in 1892. He died in 1970 in Germany. Neutra attended the Sophien-Gymnasium in Vienna as well as the Vienna University of Technology. He worked briefly with Frank Lloyd Wright before moving on to work with Rudolf Schindler.

He is principaly considered a modernist. Neutra was famous for delivering what the client wanted! He was eager to build what was requested rather than impose his artistic viewpoint. His homes had an open concept providing great flexibility of use. His approach made his homes highly sought out – to this day. He is considered one of the United States most significant mid-century modernists.
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Daniel Liberskind was born in Poland. He and his family moved to New York City in 1959. He attended Cooper Union for architection. In 1972 he briefly worked for Richard Meier. Studio Daniel Liberskind was founded in 1989 with his wife. Since the late 80s he has had numerous successes. At first an architectural theorist and professor he completed his first building at age 52. In addition to architecture he is involved in the design of objects, furniture and industrial fixtures. Critics have said “His work reflects a limited architectural vocabulary of jagged edges, sharp angles and tortured geometries.”



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