NORMAN FOSTER SKETCHBOOKS VOLUME IV · 1991-1995

Edited by Jorge Sainz, this generously illustrated publication offers a broad overview of the contents of Norman Foster’s sketchbooks, held in the Foundation’s Archive. First appearing in 2020, the now sold-out synopsis volume of the series Norman Foster Sketchbooks 1975-2020 includes a selection of the complete visual output of Norman Foster, contained in his sketchbooks. Volume I · 1975-1980, published in 2021, offers an in-depth exploration of the drawings related to the second half of the 1970s, and Volume II · 1981-1985 covers the early 1980s in Norman Foster’s career. Volume III · 1986-1990 illustrates the sketchbooks covering the second half of the 1980s.  

Norman Foster Sketchbooks Volume IV spans five years, 1991–1995, with a total of 451 drawings representing 77 sketchbooks. The opening year saw the completion of two particularly important works: Stansted, London’s third airport, and Century Tower in Tokyo. Towards the end of 1991, the results of changes made to the practice’s organisational structure became concrete. This was further reflected when, in January 1992, its name changed to Sir Norman Foster and Partners, incorporating the title bestowed upon Foster two years previously. By the time of this volume’s close in 1995, the studio would be busy with numerous projects around the globe: in Europe, Japan, the United States and, for the first time, in the Middle East. 

As with preceding volumes, the structure here is thematic, with the first part focusing on architectural projects, ordered by individual schemes, and two additional sections: one including schemes which, as recorded in the sketchbooks, did not advance beyond a preliminary design stage; and the other illustrating the varied activities of professional practice. The second part focuses on furniture studies and design ideas, with a concluding miscellany section. 

The Norman Foster Sketchbooks series is a collection celebrating Foster’s career from the 1970s to the present day, through his personal sketchbooks. It is a compilation of several volumes that follows the work of Norman Foster in chronological sequence.