Dezeen promotion: an exhibition dedicated to the work of British architect Richard Rogers opens at London's Royal Academy of Arts today.
Timed to coincide with Rogers' 80th birthday, the exhibition contains a retrospective of the architect's career - from his early experiences and education to his current portfolio of work with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
Original architectural drawings, sketches and photographs of his iconic buildings will be displayed, such as the radical Centre Pompidou in Paris, designed with Renzo Piano, Lloyd’s headquarters in London and the Bordeaux Law Courts.
Rogers will reflect on his architectural career during an evening discussion on 19 July and he will be joined by Piano to chat about their collaboration at another event on 4 October.
A series of Friday evening talks themed on architecture and urban design will include speakers Michael Pinsky, Dan Pearson and Douglas Murphy and will be free to anyone with an exhibition ticket.
The exhibition opens to the public from today until 13 October at the Burlington Gardens gallery of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Tickets cost £8 and concessions are available, while children under 12 free and Friends of the RA go free.
For more details about the exhibition visit the Royal Academy of Arts website.
Ahead of the exhibition, Richard Rogers spoke to Dezeen about how architecture's civic responsibility has been eroded in "an age of greed". Read the interview »
See all our stories about Richard Rogers »
See more architecture by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners »
The following information is from the organisers:
Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out
Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out will explore the ideas and ethos of the internationally renowned architect and urbanist Lord Rogers of Riverside. Timed to coincide with Rogers’ 80th birthday, the exhibition will examine his social, political and cultural influences and their connection to his architecture. Previously unseen original material, drawings and personal items, will present a unique insight into the thinking behind one of the world’s most celebrated architects. Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out will be held in Burlington Gardens, the Royal Academy’s new venue for contemporary art and architecture.
The exhibition will draw on key stages in Rogers’ life, from the influence of his Italian family, his experience of wartime and post-war Britain, his education at the Architectural Association and Yale, and the impact of seeing new American architecture and technology. Visitors will be introduced to Rogers’ principles through the presentation of major projects and collaborations, revealing his pioneering ideas about architecture and his belief in the need to create vibrant cities for everyone.
Rogers has consistently worked with themes that are far wider than conventional architectural thinking, articulating them as a spokesperson, writer, politician and activist, as well as an architect. For over half a century, Rogers has advocated the social objectives of architecture, the importance of public space, urban regeneration and better planning, through innovative design. He has played a pivotal role in master-planning and shaping government policy on urban development, believing that architecture is the most powerful agent for social change.
A number of high-profile projects that incorporate Rogers’ architectural principles will be showcased. These will include the Centre Pompidou, designed with Renzo Piano and still considered one of the most radical modern buildings since its opening in 1977, the Grade 1 listed headquarters for Lloyd’s of London, and the Bordeaux Law Courts. Through these projects Rogers has established himself and his practice, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, as standing at the forefront of the architecture industry.
The exhibition will bring together the far reaching effects that Rogers’ interest in the politics of social justice has had on architecture and public policy.
Join the debate
To encourage visitors to engage in the debates and issues around architecture today, the final room in the exhibition will be a space for dialogue and discussion, events and workshops, where visitors can share their views and hear from high- profile speakers in related fields. Also look out for Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners Manufactured House in the courtyard through August until early September. This innovative, flat packed, environmentally efficient home is an example of how new building technologies can help shape better mass housing.
Friday Evening Soapbox Talks
Taking place in Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out, the Soapbox provides a literal platform for key figures from the worlds of architecture, design, art and engineering to make fresh and passionate 15-minute polemics on some the central issues confronting architecture and cities, today and in the future. Provocative and inspiring, contentious and stimulating, audience participation is actively encouraged!
7–7.30pm - Gallery 10, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Gardens. Free with an exhibition ticket (no booking required).
» 26 July: Michael Pinsky - fresh and passionate polemics on central issues confronting architecture and cities.
» 2 August: Douglas Murphy - writer and critic. Murphy will be asking 'Whose Future?'
» 9 August: Carolyn Steel - architect and leading thinker on food and cities, Steel will discuss "Sitopia: The Creative Power of Food".
» 16 August: Dan Pearson - leading landscape designer, Pearson’s work ranges from small private gardens to large-scale, multifaceted public spaces and parks.
» 30 August: Anna Minton - Minton discusses 'how the security which comes with privatised ‘public’ places creates fear and paranoia. A truly public realm by contrast, is open, inclusive and democratic'.
Evening Events
Please check RA website for full details, timings and tickets.
» 19 July: Richard Rogers RA in Conversation
» 9 September: Architecture and Politics
» 23 September: Designing Cities
» 4 October: Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano with Alan Rusbridger
For more details of daytime events, family activities, exhibition and architecture tours visit the exhibition website here.
Organisation
Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out is organised by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSH-P) and the Royal Academy of Arts. The exhibition has been curated by Jeremy Melvin, Consultant Curator for Architecture, Royal Academy of Arts. The exhibition is designed by Ab Rogers Design with graphics by Graphic Thought Facility.
Supported by: Ferrovial Agroman, Heathrow and Laing O’Rourke. Investing today to transform tomorrow.
Media Partner: The Guardian
Catalogue
An illustrated catalogue has been published to accompany the exhibition Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out, with contributions from Michael Heseltine, Anne Powers, Michael Craig-Martin and Ricky Burdett amongst others.
Dates
Open to the public: Thursday 18 July – Sunday 13 October 2013, 10am – 6pm daily (last admission 5.30pm)
Late night opening: Fridays until 10pm (last admission 9.30pm)
Admission
£8 full price; concessions available; children under 12 free; Friends of the RA go free.
Tickets
Tickets for Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out are available daily at the RA or visit www.royalacademy.org.uk. Group bookings: Groups of 10+ are asked to book in advance. Telephone 020 7300 8027 or email: groupbookings@royalacademy.org.uk