Norman Foster designs time capsule for America's 250th anniversary celebration

British architect Norman Foster has created a time capsule set to be buried under the Washington Monument to celebrate the USA's 250th anniversary of independence.

UK deputy prime minister David Lammy delivered the time capsule to Washington DC last week, marking the beginning of the UK's engagement in America 250, which celebrates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The time capsule will be buried under the plaza at Washington Monument and is destined to be reopened on 4th July 2276, for the USA's 500th Independence Day.

American time capsule mirrors sister capsule at Trafalgar Square

Items enclosed in the capsule include a letter from Lammy and soil from Sulgrave Manor, a house in Northamptonshire built by George Washington's ancestors.

It was designed by Foster as a sister time capsule to one located at London's Trafalgar Square, which was added during Foster + Partners' restoration of the George Washington statue and plinth last year.

Set to be reopened on the same day as its American counterpart, the steel box contains proclamations from the governor of Virginia and the UK Government, soil from George Washington's former residence Mount Vernon, a donor roll, winning student essays from Virginia's Expressions of Freedom competition and a steel plate signed by Foster.

During his visit to the USA, Lammy also gifted a Portland limestone capstone made from one of the original steps of the George Washington Statue plinth, engraved with 13 six-pointed stars to reflect George Washington's Headquarters Flag.

"Time capsules are about speaking to the future," said Lammy. "I am confident that when this treasure is opened up by our descendants, they will find Britain and America still the closest of friends and the surest of allies."

"Two free, multi-racial, English-speaking peoples anchoring our great western family," he continued. "This is who we are: a family based on freedom, a family that never tires in its pursuit of greatness and new horizons."

To commemorate his 90th birthday, Dezeen looked at how Foster became the world's most successful architect. His studio is currently working on designs for the Queen Elizabeth II memorial in London and a 100,000-seat stadium for Manchester United.

In anticipation of the America 250 celebrations, UFC president Dana White revealed plans for a mixed martial arts arena to be built on the White House lawn and US president Donald Trump has proposed a classical-style triumphal arch that may be installed in Washington DC.

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