However, it is understood that after buying the property through Sotheby’s
last year, Lord and Lady Foster have not made it available for rent.
Nancy Gardella, the executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of
Commerce, said: “The excitement we’ve all had at having the First Family
here will certainly be missed.”
The loss of business from the Obamas’ staff, security and press corps will be
felt by local firms. However, Ms Gardella said they would be joining several
other wealthy British families with homes on the island.
Lord Foster, 77, is chairman of Foster + Partners and is best known in Britain
for his design of the “Gherkin” tower in the City of London, as well as
Wembley Stadium and Stansted Airport. Lord Foster, who was born in
Manchester, is also behind some of the world’s most lauded buildings, such
as the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 90 miles to the north-west of his new
island home.
He was appointed a life peer in 1999 and sat as a cross-bencher, before giving
up his seat in 2010 under new House of Lords rules dictating that members
must be fully UK-resident for tax purposes.
Lord Foster said that although he paid UK taxes on UK earnings — and was not a
so-called “non-dom” — he did not keep a home in Britain and therefore did
not meet the demands of the rules.
He, Lady Foster — a Spanish-born academic and publishing executive — and their
two children can enjoy two full-sized homes on the estate as well as a boat
house, pool, tennis and basketball courts, and several gardens.
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