Design and Sustainable Construction in the Contemporary Work of Norman Foster

In the words of English architect Norman Foster, delivered at the Green Agenda Forum in 2015: “As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future that is essentially unknown”. Such words still reverberate in the contemporaneity of the new century, bringing to light the necessary and urgent sustainable approach in a multi and interdisciplinary field. To bring up studies and discussions about new possibilities, new paths for buildings and cities. The methodology of the article will be to elucidate, through the selection of examples by the architect Norman Foster, buildings in the urban context that combine sustainable integrated thinking and that, in some way, contribute to the improvement of our cities. Through these examples, we seek to disseminate sustainable design methodologies that support sustainable design and construction in accordance with the objectives of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development to promote more resilient and sustainable cities due to the delicate moment the planet faces in terms of scarcity of resources. The article brings an in-depth study of contemporary cases, within the scope of the building inserted in the urban fabric and all its infrastructure, to elucidate the intersection between design and sustainable construction. Through investigation of the design and construction mechanisms, to bring to light eco-efficient strategies or technologies employed, the main result is to establish parallels and disseminate actions in the field of architecture towards sustainability, to praise the urgent path that humanity is going through in order to guarantee the perpetuation of species and conditions of survival not only for current generations, but also for future generations.