Richard Rogers Iconic Buildings, British Architect Office, Designs, English Studio
Richard Rogers Buildings : Architecture
Key Architecture Practice in London, England, UK Design Office
post updated 20 May 2021 ; 15 Dec 2019
Richard Roger’s Most Iconic Buildings
With an architect such as Sir Richard Rogers, as devoted to original and high-tech architecture as he is, it is certainly a difficult task to pick the most iconic of his many projects – each one so unique yet so markedly the work of his hand.
From his early work alongside Sir Norman Foster to recent buildings such as Maggie’s Centre – a stunningly designed building at Charing Cross hospital – Roger’s work has always had a eye catching quality.
Although undoubtedly a difficult decision, here is a list of the three buildings that have and will continue to define and represent Sir Richard Rogers as an architect.
The Pompidou Centre, Paris
image © Adrian Welch
Completed in 1977, the Pompidou Centre houses a public library, art gallery and research centres within it 5 acre site and for many marked the catalyst for Roger’s long and successful career. Designed alongside Italian architect Renzo Piano, the Pompidou began Roger’s trademark ‘inside out’ style which has remained more a less a constant throughout his career.
The Pompidou combines a steel superstructure with reinforced concrete floors – the steel sitting scaffold-like on the outside of the building to striking effect. Although not entirely popular at its time of opening, the Pompidou is now considered one of Paris’ most famous landmarks.
Rogers has since been credited with ‘turning the architecture world upside down’ when he designed the Pompidou – to design what was to be such an important building in such a revolutionary way, set the benchmark for Rogers’ career.
The Lloyd’s Building, London
image © AW
Located in the City of London, the capitals business district, the Lloyd’s Building is home to the insurance and mortgage giant Lloyd’s of London. Much like The Pompidou centre that was completed a year before the construction of Lloyd’s began, the design again centres on Roger’s inside-out theory, to the extent that it is now commonly referred to as the ‘the Inside-Out Building.’
Consisting of three main towers, the towers service portions are restricted to the exterior, with its lifts, staircases and supply pipes on the outside, leaving more uncluttered space on the inside of the building. Since its construction, many other striking towers have been built in the City, some overshadowing Lloyd’s inventive and in some ways beautiful design. In 2008 the tower was Grade I listed and in its time has featured as a location in many popular films, such as Entrapment, Mamma Mia! and Trainspotting.
The Millennium Dome
image © Adrian Welch
Perhaps Roger’s most iconic and also most criticised project is the Millennium Dome. Located in Greenwich, London, the dome was commissioned by John Major’s labour government to help celebrate the Millennium – originally built to house the Millennium Experience exhibition; it has since been re-branded as the 02 arena, which has become a major music and events venue.
Named the Millennium Dome, the structure actually takes more the form of a large tent, with a roof supported by cables from 12 masts that pass through the roof. Unfortunately, the press reaction to the Dome has almost exclusively been negative, a situation that Roger’s may have foreseen when taking on the project, but one that was also completely out of his control. Costing £789 million, many believed the project was badly run, badly implemented and without an answer as to what was to happen to the dome after the Millennium Experience, a bad idea.
Richard Rogers
image from developer
Location: London, England, UK
Richard Rogers Partnership – Key Buildings
European Law Courts, Antwerp, Belgium
building photo from ArcelorMittal
European Law Courts
Maggies London, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
photo : Speirs and Major Associates / James Newton
Maggie’s London
This building design by Richard Rogers won the Stirling Prize in 2009
Pompidou Centre, Paris, France
Richard Rogers / Renzo Piano Architects
Classic Richard Rogers building
Architecture in London
Contemporary Architecture in London
London Architecture Links – chronological list
Richard Rogers – Pritzker Prize architects – winner 2007
Richard Rogers – Stirling Prize 2006 winner
RIBA Gold Medal Winner – 1985
Comments / photos for the Richard Rogers Architects page welcome