The sought-after British architect reveals what he's seeking, riding, collecting and coveting

WELL-BUILT | Lord Norman Foster in his 'Gherkin' building in London Manolo Yllera

Travel is a way of life for British starchitect Lord Norman Foster, whose buildings dot the globe—New York's stylishly faceted Hearst Tower, London's futuristic Millennium Bridge and that modern cathedral, Beijing Airport, to name a few. Since January he has flown over 166,000 miles to 23 cities in 13 countries.

Luckily, planes and trains have been a lifelong source of inspiration. "As a child, I would stand for hours watching for trains," recalled Lord Foster, 79, who grew up in Manchester, England. "A great prize was to see a steam locomotive."

Transportation's forms have subliminally influenced his architecture, he said. Streamlined designs and innovative technology distinguish his London-based firm Foster + Partners' work, earning him every major award, a knighthood and life peerage.

In his latest achievement, the reimagined Imperial War Museum in London—which opened last month to coincide with World War I's centenary—he suspended a Spitfire and other fighter planes from the ceiling of an expansive new atrium. Lord Foster, who served in the Royal Air Force in the 1950s, called the Spitfire "arguably the most beautiful aircraft I have flown."

We spoke with him recently about enlightened 19th-century thinking, the value of sketching and why houses are, surprisingly, the toughest spaces to design....Continue Reading

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