Over the course of a long career in architecture, Lord Rogers of Riverside designed some of the world’s most memorable buildings and won all of the most distinguished honours the industry has to bestow, including the Pritzker Prize.
Born in Florence to an Anglo-Italian family, Rogers battled severe dyslexia throughout his school years, but found his niche studying at the Architectural Association. He then went on to study for a Masters at Yale, where he met Norman Foster and his future wife Su Brumwell, with both of whom and Foster's first wife Wendy Cheesman, he set up his first studio, Team 4 in 1963. He later formed a partnership with the Italian architect Renzo Piano, and together they won the competition to design Paris’ Pompidou Center in 1971.
The building was a defining moment of what became known as ‘high-tech architecture’, a style characterised by its inside-out look, with pipes and structural elements visible from the outside. The Lloyd’s building in London, designed by Rogers in 1978, is another of the high-tech movement’s most recognisable products. There was consistent opposition to both buildings, yet their brave, highly original designs are widely considered to have revolutionised the cityscapes of London and Paris. The Pompidou Center was designed to be a “a place for all people," transforming the idea of the traditional museum, and 7 million people visited it in its first year.
In 1977 Rogers set up the Richard Rogers Partnership along with Marco Goldschmied, Mike Davies, and John Young; the studio became Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners in 2007. This phase of his career saw him design a number of iconic, if controversial buildings, including the European Court of Human Rights building in Strasbourg, the Millennium Dome, Heathrow Terminal 5, and 122 Leadenhall Street, also known as the Cheesegrater, in London. The studio won the Stirling Prize twice, first for Madrid's Barajas Airport in 2006 and again for the Maggie's Centre in west London in 2009.
Rogers was knighted in 1991 and became Baron Rogers of Riverside in 1996. He married Ruth Rogers, the chef and owner of the River Cafe, in 1973, and modified the building where the River Cafe is situated for its current use.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners released the following statement upon his death: "He will be remembered as a colleague and friend who was gregarious, always completely free of status, always inclusive, always exploring and looking ahead.
"A man of immense drive and charisma, he was equally a man of civility and integrity, dedicated to the art and science of architecture, of urbanism, the life of the city, of political commitment and positive social change," the studio continued.
"His love of people, of discussion, the sharing of views, of exploring new paths and of co-operative and creative working, was reflected in the practice he founded, and which continues to espouse and develop those ideals today."
Richard Rogers died at home in London on December 18, 2021. His wife Ruth and their son Roo survive him, as do his three other sons, Ben, Zad and Ab; a brother, Peter; and 13 grandchildren.
