Rumour: Apple drafts in Norman Foster to create 'City of Apple'

by Steven Mostyn - Dec 7 2010, 10:20

Gadget specialist Apple, which often offers up glorious aesthetics alongside its highly acclaimed consumer hardware, has reportedly turned to renowned architect Norman Foster to help craft its recently acquired 98-acre slice of Silicon Valley real estate.

According to a report posted on El Economista, the expansive office plot—which was previously occupied by computer titan Hewlett-Packard—is to be sculpted into the new “City of Apple” and will eventually become the official headquarters of Jobs and Co.  

If the rumours prove accurate, Apple’s eagerness to bolster its environmental credentials is one of the main reasons for it seeking out Foster’s considerable talents—not least because of his recent contributions towards the creation of Abu Dhabi’s carbon-neutral city of Masdar.

“The City of Apple is one of the best kept secrets of the company,” outlined the report (although clearly not that well kept). “It could be compared with the launch of a new iPhone or iPad.”

Building on Apple’s drive to push the boundaries of ‘going green’, employees at the Cupertino giant will apparently eschew conventional ground-based vehicles and move about the campus by navigating a network of underground tunnels.

Some of the notable architectural delights created by Norman Foster during his long and distinguished career include the Reichstag Dome in Berlin, Hong Kong International Airport, the Hearst Tower in New York, and the new Wembley Stadium in London.

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