Richard Rogers has announced that the home he built for his parents in Wimbledon, London, will be gifted to Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) for the training of doctorates in the field of architecture. The home, which will be donated by his charity, the Richard Rogers Charitable Settlement, was completed between 1967 and 1968 by Richard and his then wife Su Rogers. Originally designed for his parents, Dr. William Nino and Dada Rogers, the Grade II* listed pre-fabrictated single storey dwelling was later adapted for Rogers' son Ab and his family, before being put on the market in 2013 for £3.2million ($4.8million).
The property was recently removed from sale in order for Rogers to offer it as a donation. Before becoming a place for Harvard GSD students to live and study in, it has been reported that following an invited competition Rogers has commissioned his former colleague Philip Gumuchdjian to "renovate the house and restore it to its original domestic state."
Gumuchdjian has said the building’s new life showed it remains "as relevant as it always was."He continued: "the first job I ever did for Rogers in 1980 was to repair the blind in the house and it was immaculate with beautiful furniture such as Eames chairs and [Dada’s] pots in it." He added that "it’s an interesting intellectual challenge. The building is simple and clean, flexible and very much ahead of its time."
The Dean of Harvard GSD Mohsen Mostafavi has said that "we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Rogers family to provide scholars and designers with a space near the resources of London as they consider alternative scenarios for architectural and urban futures."
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AD Classics: Rogers House / Richard & Su Rogers
Story via Architects' Journal.
