Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space
19 October 2024 – 27 April 2025
The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA)
Showcasing designs by Norman Foster and Foster + Partners, a new exhibition titled Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space has opened at The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA).
On view from 19 October 2024 to 27 April 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to explore Foster + Partners’ architectural vision and its approach to design and sustainability, through models, drawings, and an early concept design of the Museum’s west wing renovation. The exhibition illuminates the practice’s commitment to creating environments that harmonize with their natural surroundings and respond to the needs of the community.
Foster + Partners: Architecture of Light and Space is organized by three themes: ‘Working with History,’ ‘Community and Culture,’ and ‘Embracing the Environment.’
• ‘Working with History’ highlights Foster + Partners’ respectful approach to working with historic buildings and designing modern spaces that reference a dialogue with their unique histories. Models demonstrating this approach include architectural designs that complement the 17th-century Halls of Realms at the Museo del Prado in Madrid and the original Palladian facade of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
• ‘Community and Culture’ demonstrates Foster + Partners’ recognition of the changing role of museums and their history of creating truly open and flexible community spaces, with greater accessibility and scope for multiple activities. Projects on display include the Great Court at the British Museum and the Winspear Opera House in Dallas.
• ‘Embracing the Environment’ explores the capacity of architecture to not only exist harmoniously in nature, but to truly celebrate it with indoor/outdoor spaces, panoramic views, and the planting of native trees and gardens. Projects on display include Apple Park in Cupertino, California.
Foster + Partners’ approach to sustainable design is examined throughout, including the renovations and new dome for the Reichstag in Berlin, which generates a surplus of energy for the city.
Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO at The San Diego Museum of Art, said: "We are thrilled to bring this important exhibition to San Diego and honored to collaborate with Lord Norman Foster in the process. Foster + Partners has redefined the harmonious relationship between architecture and its environment. This exhibition not only showcases their remarkable work, but also invites our visitors to engage with the transformative power of architecture in new and exciting ways."
Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners, said: “History, community and the environment have been themes that have underpinned our work since the earliest days of the practice, and their relevance and importance has only grown over the years. We are delighted to have the opportunity to show our work at The San Diego Museum of Art, enabling visitors to have a greater appreciation of the importance of design in the quality of our lives.”
Announced in 2023, SDMA has chosen Foster + Partners to renovate its west wing, with the goal of expanding exhibition space, including free galleries; enhancing public engagement; achieving greater efficiency and sustainability; supporting the Museum’s permanent collection; and improving accessibility while honoring the Museum’s and Balboa Park's architectural heritage. The renovation aims to include a new education pavilion and sculpture garden, as well as a free community gathering space with exhibitions, pop up concerts, and a café. In addition, the renovation will accommodate new storage vaults for the collection and enhanced sustainability technologies.
For more information about the exhibition, ticketing, and programming, please visit www.SDMArt.org.
