lord norman foster

Lord Foster Designs $70 Million Factory for McLaren's New Supercar

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Architecture & Design

Famed British architect Lord Norman Foster has designed a stunning new $70 million Production Centre for McLaren where the legendary racing marque is busy assembling their wicked new MP4-12C supercar. The sleek new facility is an adjunct to McLaren's Technology Centre at the UK HQ, which Foster also designed and built for the company. Every aspect of the the Production Centre, a shrine to the ultimate in automotive technology and car design, is "clean, clinical and present for good reason," Wallpaper notes. The Production Centre is a low energy, eco-friendly structure with a roof designed to collect rainwater and a displacement ventilation system. It's connected to the Technology Centre by an underground walkway for ease of communication between McLaren's design and engineering teams. The overall effect is straight out of a James Bond film with its all-white interior, ceramic tiled floors and all-black technician's outfits; the only splashes of color come from the cars themselves.

Gallery: Lord Norman Foster for McLaren

[via JamesList]

Tags: architect, architecture, car design, design, Foster + Partners, Lord Norman Foster, McLaren, McLaren MP4-12C, Norman Foster, supercar, UK

Perini Navi Superyacht by Lord Foster for $1 Million Per Month

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

For a cool $1 million a month you can now charter the world's most stylish sailing superyacht, designed by famed British architect Lord Norman Foster for Perini Navi, builders of the Maltese Falcon. Dubbed the Panthalassa, the 184-ft. yacht (which we first reported on last December) represents the "perfect fusion of contemporary living and the finest nautical heritage". Natural daylight suffuses the interior of the yacht through unique skylights designed by Foster to channel light from the sundeck and oversized portholes. The centerpiece of her luxe interior is a gracefully-flowing stairwell wrapped in a translucent acrylic enclosure allowing light to flow through the main saloon as well. There's room for 12 guests in the airy interior featuring teak flooring, saddle leather wall paneling and granite surfaces. Outside the deck features a variety of places to relax and an informal outdoor eating area. A lounge, bar, library and boardroom all feature glazed screens that can be opened to create a generous central saloon. Inside the cabins, leather wall paneling complements silk rugs and gold and black marble tiled baths.

Gallery: Perini Navi Panthalassa by Lord Foster

[via JamesList]

Tags: Lord Norman Foster, Maltese Falcon, Perini Navi, sailing, sailing yacht, superyacht, yacht, yacht charter

Perini Navi Panthalassa Yacht by Foster + Partners

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Italian yachtbuilder Perini Navi, makers of the world's finest sailing yachts including the famous Maltese Falcon, have collaborated with superstar British architect Lord Norman Foster on its latest launch, the 184-ft. Panthalassa (above). Designed specifically for use as an ultra-luxe charter in the Caribbean and Mediterranean with rates beginning at about $300,000 per week, the all-aluminum alloy ketch can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots and has accommodations for up to 12 guests and a crew of 10. Foster + Partners designed the yacht's spaces as a fusion of contemporary living and the finest nautical heritage.

Outside the decks features a variety of places for relaxing and outdoor dining . Flexible, open living areas are the hallmark of the craft's interiors characterized by a lounge, bar, library and boardroom all featuring glazed screens that can be opened to create a generous central saloon. The three decks are connected by an oval stair, which is surrounded by light-reflecting acrylic rods to mirror daylight back into the living areas. Materials include teak, saddle leather and granite table surfaces. Inside the cabins, leather wall paneling complements silk rugs and gold and black marble tiled baths.

[via JamesList]

Tags: architect, Foster Partners, Foster Partners, Italy, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, Maltese Falcon, MalteseFalcon, Norman Foster, NormanFoster, Perini Navi, PeriniNavi, sailing, sailing yacht, SailingYacht, UK, yacht

Lord Foster's Russian Projects in Jeopardy

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Award-winning British architect Lord Norman Foster has been called the west's only really high-profile architect to conquer Russia, with seven megabucks projects currently in the works there. However, the Art Newspaper reports that most of them are now facing severe obstacles due to the country's economic decline, which has done damage to their rich oligarch sponsors. For starters, the $2 billion Russia Tower in Moscow, planned as the tallest building in Europe, has stalled because the billionaire developer couldn't secure financing, as my colleague Deidre Woollard reported back in November. Work has also come to a halt on redevelopment of the Hotel Rossia site on Red Square, plans for which include a concert hall, museum, five-star hotels, luxury apartments, offices and retail space.

Meanwhile, a scheme to convert New Holland, an artificial island in St. Petersburg built by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, into a commercial and cultural hub slated for 2010, is far behind schedule as costs have skyrocketed by some $200 million. On the bright side, Foster's massive $400 million expansion plan for Moscow's State Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, is on track thanks to the patronage of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Foster hardly lacks for work in any case; as we recently reported, he's heading up a $1.5 billion project to design a fleet of Falcon 7X jets for NetJets Europe (above).

Tags: Architecture, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, Moscow, Norman Foster, NormanFoster, Russia, Russian billionaires, RussianBillionaires

NetJets Falcon 7X by Lord Norman Foster

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

When NetJets Europe placed the largest order in business aviation history with manufacturer Dassault, for 33 Falcon 7X aircraft, they decided that the $1.5 billion worth of jets needed a little something special. The company commissioned British architect Lord Norman Foster (above) to design the interior and exterior of the high-tech planes, the fastest Falcon ever made. Foster drew on his experience both as a pilot and a NetJets client for the project, the result of which was just unveiled. The 33 7X's are being integrated into the NetJets fleet over the next eight years.

Foster's 7X is "thematically zoned into a well-being space for customers and a work space for crew." The passenger cabin is "light and tranquil" featuring leather seating, a cream and tan color scheme and Fiddleback Sycamore wood fittings. Foster designed the seating arrangements to accommodate both business meetings and an "enhanced sleeping and dining experience." The work area is markedly different with an industrial vibe featuring a grey and black color scheme, employing carbon fiber and steel for the galley and crew areas.

Gallery: Falcon 7X by Lord Norman Foster

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Tags: Architect, Dassault, Falcon 7X, Falcon7x, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, NetJets, NetJets Europe, NetjetsEurope, Private jets, PrivateJets

Aston Martin & Lord Foster Revamp London Buses

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Aston Martin and famed Architect Lord Norman Foster have won a competition to re-design London's iconic double-decker buses, which were discontinued three years ago. The mayor of London hopes to have the new buses up and running in time for the London Olympics in 2012. According to the AP, in the Aston / Foster model (above), "Passengers sit on reconstituted leather upholstery while gazing through a glazed roof coated with solar panels to power heat and air conditioning. The rounded bus also boasts wood flooring and a saloon-like lower deck that the architect hopes will create 'a tactile living room feel.'" Critics of the plan have pointed out the cost of the chic new conveyances could amount to $160 million a year.

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, London, London Bus, LondonBus, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster

Monaco Shelves Multi-Billion $ Expansion Plan

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

The tiny Principality of Monaco, which trumped London in September for the title of the world's most expensive luxury property market, has shelved multi-billion dollar plans for an ambitious land expansion into the Mediterranean. The plan hatched by Monaco's Prince Albert called for a 3 million sq. ft. artificial peninsula to be built, housing luxury apartments, boutiques and tourist traps. Expected to cost $5 billion - $10 billion, the peninsula would have added 5% to Monaco's territory.

Two world-famous architects, Lord Norman Foster and Daniel Liebeskind, were competing for the project, which had been slated to begin construction in 2011. Now however, Prince Albert has called the whole thing off. "In the current climate, it would be irresponsible to launch a project of this scale," the Prince explained to the AFP, citing concerns both financial and environmental.

Tags: Daniel Liebeskind, DanielLiebeskind, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, Monaco, Norman Foster, NormanFoster, Prince Albert of Monaco, PrinceAlbertOfMonaco

Lord Norman Foster's YachtPlus to Launch in Sept.

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The avant-garde super-yacht designed by famed British architect Lord Norman Foster for UK fractional ownership firm YachtPlus is nearing completion and should be available next month. My colleague Deidre Woollard first reported on the luxurious project last year. The high-tech 132-ft. Foster-designed "Signature Series" craft is the first in YachtPlus' fleet, each of which will have eight owners at a share price of about $2 million each, bringing the total cost to about $16 million. Construction on the flagship steel-jacketed vessel is in its final phase at the state-of-the-art Rodriquez Cantieri Navali (RCN) shipyard in Italy. Aside from it's eye-popping design, the company claims Foster's yacht offers more deck space, interior comfort and glass surfaces than any equivalent craft of her size.

Tags: Architects, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, Yacht, YachtPlus

Hearst Tower New York, NY

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Publishing giant Hearst Corp is upgrading their New York City offices to the tune of a 46 story tower designed by the amazing Lord Norman Foster. The new tower is an iconic design of diamond grid sitting atop the original 6 story art deco base built in 1928. The tower will be home to around 2,000 employees with the most popular magazines occupying the uppermost floors. After the executive suites on the 43rd floor, Cosmopolitan will claim the 38th floor and O, the Oprah mag, will have its offices on the 36th. Hearst Tower is made even more remarkable through its "green" designation, the first in NYC. The special design of its exterior enabled the construction to use 2,000 pounds less steel in the tower and a rainwater collection system irrigates plantings and provides water to a interior water feature in the lobby. Don't we all wish we could work in a place like this?

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Tags: hearst corp, hearst tower, HearstCorp, HearstTower, lord norman foster, LordNormanFoster, new york, NewYork