Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out at the Royal Academy of Arts

Architecture | 15 Jul 2013 | By By Ellie Stathaki

‘Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out’ at the Royal Academy of Arts, London

Architect Richard Rogers' work is the subject of a major exhibition at London's Royal Academy of Arts. Here, he is pictured in his house in Chelsea - an airy space he created in the 1982 by knocking together two terraced houses. Portrait by Tim Gutt, for Wallpaper's July issue

Marking the architecture titan’s 80th birthday, ‘Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out at the Royal Academy of Arts’ is a timely revisit of his exceptional body of work – also celebrated in Wallpaper’s July 2013 issue.

The show, curated by the Royal Academy of Arts’ consultant curator for architecture, Jeremy Melvin, examines key events and projects in Rogers’ life and professional career, introducing the visitor to his beliefs about the importance of collaboration and team work, the key role of architecture and urban design, social responsibility and the need to create a vibrant city for all. ‘No man is an island’, announces Rogers in a recorded message in the exhibition’s brightly coloured entrance, ‘and neither is a building’. From the influence of his Italian roots to his education at the Architectural Association and Yale and his career onwards, the displays – designed by Rogers’ son Ab – offer an interesting insight into Rogers’ work and ethos.

Highlighting some of the architect’s landmark projects - such as the Pompidou he designed as Rogers + Piano, the Lloyd’s Building, the Barajas airport Terminal 4 and the National Assembly for Wales, all created by the Richard Rogers Partnership - the show also includes a wealth of previously unseen notes, sketches, drawings, personal items and ephemera. These are all created by - or linked to - the architect during his over 50-year-long career spanning work as Team 4 (with Norman and Wendy Foster, Su Rogers and Georgie Walton), Richard + Su Rogers, Piano + Rogers, the Richard Rogers Partnership and finally his office in its current form, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

The architect might be 80, but he is showing no signs of slowing down, as we proved in our July issue. With a £135m extension to the British Museum, as well as a revival of 22 hectares of a disused container port in Sydney called Barangaroo in the pipeline for Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (among other projects), the architect is still firmly on the rise.

Featured in the Royal Academy's exhibition are a wealth of previously unseen notes, sketches, drawings, personal items and ephemera, alongside major works by the architecture. Pictured is a sketch of the Zip-Up House, designed by Richard and Su Rogers in 1968. © Richard and Su Rogers, image courtesy of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

Installation view of 'Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out', which has been curated by the Royal Academy of Arts' consultant curator for architecture, Jeremy Melvin. Pictured, Transbay Transit Centre & Tower, San Francisco, 2007 (unbuilt). © Benedict Johnson

The exhibition examines key events and projects in Rogers' life and professional career, introducing the visitor to his beliefs about the importance of collaboration and team work, the key role of architecture and urban design, social responsibility and the need to create a vibrant city for all. Pictured, The Leadenhall Building (detail), London, 2002 -2013 (under construction). © Benedict Johnson

Richard Rogers' 'London as it could be', drawn in 1986. © Richard Rogers Partnership, image courtesy of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

The Lloyds of London is one of the most iconic buildings designed by Rogers. © Janet Gill, image courtesy of the Estate of Janet Gill

A more recent work by the Richard Rogers Partnership, the Terminal 4 of the Barajas airport in Madrid, was finished in 2005. © Duccio Malagamba, image courtesy of Duccio Malagamba

Completed in 2006, the National Assembly of Wales features a gently undulating roof. © Katsuhisa Kida / FOTOTECA, image courtesy of Katsuhisa Kida / FOTOTECA

The Pompidou Centre in Paris, designed by Rogers + Piano, opened in 1977. Photography: David Noble, image courtesy of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

Our July limited edition cover (for subscribers) by Rogers featured a quote by the architect that appeared in AD magazine in the late 1970s after the Centre Pompidou was completed. Wallpaper* subscribers also received a London cycle map with the issue, devised by Rogers

The map traces two routes - one along the river, one a north London loop, bothing taking in some of his favourite buildings, as well as his own capital landmarks. To receive a copy of the map, sign up to our newsletter

Rome Congress Centre, 2000, (unbuilt), from the 'Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out' exhibition. *© Benedict Johnson*

Left: The Leadenhall Building, London, 2002 -2013 (under construction); Right: Chifley Square Structural Node, Sydney, 2006 – 2013 (under construction). © Benedict Johnson

Shanghai Masterplan, from the 'Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out' exhibition. *© Benedict Johnson*

Installation view of 'Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out'. *© Benedict Johnson*

Address: Royal Academy
Burlington Gardens
London

ROGERS STIRK HARBOUR + PARTNERS ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

‘Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out’ at the Royal Academy of Arts, London

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