In the global architectural community, the name Norman Foster is virtually synonymous with contemporary landmark architecture. A Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, he is renowned for his high-tech architectural language and commitment to sustainable design. His iconic works span major cities worldwide, including 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) in London, Apple Park in California, and Bloomberg European Headquarters. These projects have not only redefined urban skylines, but have also continuously pushed the boundaries of architectural technology.
Recently, Foster returned to China for another highly symbolic visit. His first stop was the 40th anniversary celebration of HSBC Main Building, the headquarters of HSBC in Hong Kong. As his first project in China, this building was the world’s first billion-dollar building at the time of its completion and remains a celebrated icon of high-tech architecture. He then traveled to Shanghai to inspect BOMA Plaza, a new landmark project featuring the world’s first supertall adjustable glass louver system—an important breakthrough in both energy-efficient architecture and façade engineering.
The final stop of his journey brought him to the core of Beijing CBD, where Foster visited several flagship projects by Foster + Partners. Notably, all of these developments incorporate Warmframe Technology’s Thermal Break Blanket façade solution. These include Z6 Oceanwide Tower, China’s first “Net Zero Carbon Outstanding” supertall office tower and a benchmark for next-generation sustainable buildings; Z5 Dajia Insurance Headquarters, which uses 2,700 intelligent dimmable glass panels to dynamically optimize energy performance and daylight quality; and Z3 CICC Tower, a highly recognizable urban landmark located at the central axis of the CBD.
Beyond these Beijing CBD projects, Warmframe Technology has also contributed to several other landmark Foster + Partners projects in China, including No.1 Nanjing Road Qingdao and China Merchants Bank Headquarters. Together, these projects demonstrate the two parties’ continued collaboration and deep technical synergy in high-performance curtain wall thermal systems, complex façade engineering, and sustainable building innovation.