The Way of Approaching for Sustainable Architecture - Norman Foster - Dissertation Example

Norman Foster is a world-renowned architect who is known for his whimsical characteristics. He has given a new dimension to the London skyline, but he is no longer confined as a British architect. He has elevated to a high rank of global architects whose designs are timeless yet modern and sustainable. Foster provides his designs with a modern approach and is noted for their elegance and gracefulness. He also focuses on every detail of his structures. He specializes in creating modern office buildings with steel and glass for easy entry of natural sunlight to preserve energy. Foster believes in giving form to his designs with the latest technologies, giving attention to the sustainability of each building by constructing on a site, street or landscape after considering all the ecological aspects.

Modernist architecture which gained its name almost a century back was more an idealist concept. This kind of architecture promoted an uncluttered design to make the buildings look more appealing to the eyes. It was Norman Foster who established that good buildings can be constructed with clean and uncluttered modernistic designs with a certain amount of imagination. He has been considered as the pioneer among green architects. Sustainable architecture Buildings have a great impact on the sustainability of the lives of human beings.

In general 40 percent of energy goes into acclimatizing a building and 8 percent of energy goes into constructing it (Zeiler, 2011, p.53). Modern designers and architects strive to find solutions towards a sustainable approach in their constructions with recyclable use of energy resources, reduction of waste products while maintaining the comfort level of people who would reside in the buildings. By means of sustainable architecture, ethical aspects are integrated with building designs that are concerned with renewable energy of which solar shading system is one of many technical issues.

The traditional methods are no longer applicable in sustainable architecture due to the rising complex nature of designing and this leads to newer approaches to be adopted to narrow the difference between art and science. Sustainable development is one “which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Zeiler, 2011, p.53). Norman Foster has been the first architect to introduce eco-friendly ideas in his designs. In the early phase of his career, many of his ideas remained on board because of the lack of proper technologies; this has been solved with the advent of computer programs resulting in applications of the ideas in actual constructions.

The aim of this paper is to focus on Norman Foster and his green architectural concepts with special emphasis on his recent venture, the London City Hall. The construction of the building was completed in the year 2002 (Yudelson, 2009, p.51). It is one of the most important new projects of London as it symbolizes one of the best designs of Norman Foster. This externally egg-shaped building is a hallmark of the sustainable and effectively non-polluting design of Foster. This building which has all the modern high-tech systems symbolizes the progressive outlook of the government in the field of architecture.

The building is designed in a manner to make it more ecological and environmentally friendly as well as an energy-saving structure. This reflects the political philosophy of London.