Lord Foster: Steve Jobs was an “inspiration”

Lord Foster has paid tribute to Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, after his death last night.

Foster – who worked with Jobs on the design of the tech firm’s new headquarters in California – described him as an “inspiration and a role model”.

Foster’s tribute in full:

“With my colleagues I would like to pay tribute to Steve Jobs.  Like so many millions our lives have been profoundly and positively influenced by the innovations pioneered by Steve and Apple, names which are inseparable.

“We were greatly privileged to know Steve as a person, as a friend and in every way so much more than a client.  Steve was an inspiration and a role model.  He encouraged us to develop new ways of looking at design to reflect his unique ability to weave backwards and forwards between grand strategy and the minutiae of the tiniest of internal fittings.  For him no detail was small in its significance and he would be simultaneously questioning the headlines of our project together whilst he delved into its fine print.

He was the ultimate perfectionist and demanded of himself as he demanded of others.  We are better as individuals and certainly wiser as architects through the experience of the last two years and more of working for him.  His participation was so intense and creative that our memory will be that of working with one of the truly great designers and mentors.”