Richard Rogers: The Architect Who Turned Buildings Inside-Out

From the Centre Pompidou to the Millennium Dome, we look at works by the rule-breaking pioneer who shaped city skylines

Once you know the hallmarks of a Richard Rogers project, you can’t miss them. Wandering the streets of a major commerce center like London or Paris, we’re used to seeing towers of glass and concrete, simply and cleanly designed. But turn a corner and you find a building inverted: towering lift shafts and meandering pipes wind their way around the exterior.

This is the work of Richard Rogers and his collaborators: drawing attention to the structure of a building through color and form or exposing services like pipework to public view. Here, we celebrate Rogers’ impact on architecture, following the news of his death at 88, by looking back at his life and iconic projects including the Millennium Dome and Centre Pompidou.

Rogers was a pioneer of the style dubbed "high-tech architecture", also known as structural expressionism. Buildings of this style tend to display their inner functions proudly and boldly as a part of their design. Emerging in the 1970s, material technology was also an important feature, as techniques using concrete and steel advanced. But Rogers’ path towards his legacy was as complex as the plumbing of the Pompidou…

Beginnings

Born in 1933 in Florence, Italy, Richard Rogers grew up under the dictatorship of Mussolini, which his family fled when he was six years old. Settling in the UK, life changed dramatically, as their new home consisted of a single room. Rogers attended school but struggled, only later understanding that he had unrecognized dyslexia.

But life took a turn when Rogers secured a place at the Architectural Association School in London. Though he continued to receive criticism for his work, he was determined to proceed, and went on to study for a masters at Yale in the US. It was there that he met Norman Foster, who would also go on to become one of the world's most influential Architects.

Together with Su Brumwell and Wendy Cheesman, they founded a firm called Team 4, where their style began to emerge. Rogers would later marry Brumwell, while Foster married Cheesman. The four were not finished with their studies at the time, so convinced Cheesman's sister—a fully qualified architect—to join them. One of their first projects involved designing a new home for Brumwell's parents, which went on to win a RIBA award (Royal Institute of British Architects).

"High-Tech" Architecture

Throughout his work at Team 4 and his own projects, Rogers developed a unique "voice" that echoed across his designs. Transparency contrasted with stark materials, and his balance between mass-production and personality brought his buildings to life.

Collaborating with Renzo Piano, he won the design competition for the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the first major inside-out building was opened in 1977. This, along with many other projects, became a legacy of exciting designs that turned public buildings into functional yet beautiful spaces that local people could enjoy.

Turning public opinion inside-out

Many of Rogers’ buildings faced controversy and backlash during the construction phases and beyond. When the Centre Pompidou was commissioned, Rogers was an unknown, and the alien-like structure was met with huge skepticism.

In a similar vein, the Millennium Dome received negative press and low visitorship, although those who visited it rated it positively. Since then, both have gone on to house museums and significant exhibitions, as well as cafés, restaurants, cinemas, and concert halls, and are considered important members of their cities’ respective skylines.

Rogers' designs have sometimes been so radical, they were rejected outright or canceled due to planning arguments. It is perhaps more important than ever, then, to preserve the bizarre and incredible structures that did come to fruition.

Surprising structures around the world

Over time, Rogers' work has popped up all over the globe. In 2005, the Madrid Barajas Airport was extended with its fourth terminal: an undulating wave of bamboo and a rainbow of steel pillars, with light wells to brighten the space. Meanwhile, 3 World Trade Center is the ninth tallest building in New York, and International Towers Sydney forms vertical villages where business, leisure, and health services coincide. Each building has enormous scale, yet they still feel playful and engaging due to the use of colors and materiality.

Legacy

The Richard Rogers Partnership was founded in 1977 and became Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners in 2007. In 2022, the company will remove his name as agreed in their constitution, and a new identity will emerge.

Over his life, Rogers received numerous awards, including the RIBA Gold Medal, the Pritzker Prize, and the RIBA Sterling Prize. Later in his career, he became ever more passionate about sustainability and became an advisor to several city mayors about improving city spaces. Roger had big dreams for the future of London, wanting to ensure that spaces were used effectively and quality of life for inhabitants could be raised.

Rarely going back on his decisions, Rogers ensured that his buildings continued to surprise and delight, even towards the end of his career. Buildings such as 3 World Trade Center, below, have simpler façades but retain bold features that remind us of the structures hidden within.

Rogers was an essential cog in the Late Modern machine that changed urban architecture forever. By radically opening up what a building could look like, he will surely inspire many generations of architects to come.

Which is your favorite building by Rogers? Let us know in the comments.

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Cover image credit: @rogersstirkharbour via Instagram (profile picture); design by Maja Dabek.

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