If you weren’t an optimist, it would be impossible to be an architect. Norman Foster More Quotes by Norman Foster More Quotes From Norman Foster Google has already tested robot cars in San Francisco. If they can navigate San Francisco, they can probably manage just about anywhere. Norman Foster san-franciscogooglecar The most amazing lesson in aerodynamics I ever had was the day I climbed a thermal in a glider at the same time as an eagle. I witnessed, close up, effortlessness and lightness combined with strength, precision and determination. Norman Foster daystrengthdeterminationtime A life-threatening illness or two certainly gives you an awareness of your own mortality. It heightens your sense of gratitude for things that previously, if you've not taken them for granted, you perhaps never appreciated how precious they were. That's almost a platitude, but one has to state the obvious. Norman Foster yourneveryougratitude Everything we design is a response to the specific climate and culture of a particular place. Norman Foster everythingplacedesignculture I love flying; I love aircraft, and you could say I've had a love affair with flight since I was a child. I travel a huge amount. I use airports, and as a pilot, I've flown in and out of airports thousands of times, so really, I have a fairly broad perspective. Norman Foster youperspectivelovetravel I describe the design process as like the tip of the iceberg. What you don't see is the long haul: all the endless auditing and things like that. Norman Foster seeyoudesignlong I think cars encapsulate the history of innovation and style - it's the other side of the coin of the car being public enemy No.1. Norman Foster innovationstylecarhistory Surveys often show people would prefer a detached house with a lawn and driveway to an apartment. I understand this. It's not my place to presume to tell people where they can live. But perhaps that dream will simply not be possible in the future. Norman Foster placeunderstandfuturepeople When the Great Fire of London destroyed most of the medieval city in 1666, Christopher Wren was invited to design a new one. Within days, he had drawn up an elegant grid of broad boulevards leading to majestic squares, but it came to nothing - the existing landowners wanted things as they had been. Norman Foster citygreatdesignfire You can find, occasionally, some absolutely fantastic things in hunting shops. I've got one jacket that I just happened across which is a kind of unwashed leather - completely anonymous but absolutely special. Norman Foster findyouhuntingspecial The Italians have long known what makes a livable town or city. Norman Foster italianstowncitylong Joseph Bazalgette created a sewer system which he originally sized for London's needs of the time - he then doubled it to anticipate the future beyond. These are the qualities that I admire. Norman Foster beyondadmirefuturetime I travel continuously, and I see many cities, but there is nowhere like London. Norman Foster seelikelondontravel
