A house that changed architecture: Richard + Su Rogers’s modernist masterpiece given to the nation 

22 Parkside in Wimbledon, London, created for Richard’s parents, will be cared for by the National Trust in a move that will protect one of the UK’s most important examples of modern architecture for future generations.

Through the generosity of the Rogers family, the house has passed from private ownership into the shared inheritance of the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The two single-storey buildings were a testbed for some of Richard Rogers’s seminal ideas that would later play out on the international stage, inspiring the Centre Pompidou in Paris and helping shape the design of the Lloyd’s building in London.

Ben Rogers, the son of Richard and Su Rogers, said: “22 Parkside is much more than a family home. It is one of the most important buildings my father and mother created – a place where many of the ideas that would go on to influence my father's work and some of the world’s most celebrated architecture were first tested and explored.  

“As a family, we wanted to ensure that this remarkable house would be protected, cared for and shared with future generations, rather than remaining a private asset. The National Trust brings the expertise, public purpose and long-term commitment needed to safeguard its future, while opening up its story to students, researchers and visitors.”

The charity plans to work with the local community and with international partners to inspire the next generation of architects, designers and creatives. Activities being explored include guided visits, educational partnerships and interactive, digital content, with the aim that the building becomes a creative and educational resource for schools, universities and other heritage organisations around the world.

Having raised a significant endowment from individual donors and charitable trusts including Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Sigrid Rausing Trust to guarantee 22 Parkside’s future, the National Trust is now inviting further philanthropic support to bring the new vision to life and connect more people with modern heritage in London and beyond.

Ben continued: “We are incredibly proud that 22 Parkside will become part of the nation’s heritage, but there is still more to do. Continued support will help ensure that its legacy of creativity, innovation and public benefit can inspire people for generations to come.” 

22 Parkside is considered one of Richard Rogers’s most personal and influential works. The glass and yellow steel exterior exemplifies his modernist and functionalist design approach and was an early example of High-Tech architecture. The house aimed to show how homes could be built quickly and cost-effectively, using a pre-fabricated construction system. Meanwhile, the open-plan kitchen was inspired by Rogers’s upbringing in Italy - where food was a mainstay of family get-togethers - and designed for his mother, who loved cooking.

Ruthie Rogers, Richard Rogers’s wife, said: “Richard regarded public access to culture - whether architecture, art, theatre, music, or design - as one of the great aspirations in life. It filled him with such joy that the public would have access to this house that was once private, a house that was a prototype for what he thought houses could be for all.

“I am grateful to everyone who has generously supported this project.”

Renzo Piano, who designed the Centre Pompidou with Rogers, said: “There is no doubt that 22 Parkside was one of the most important buildings that Richard created. It worked as a miniature prototype for the sort of approach we took in the Centre Pompidou.”

The acquisition represents a rare opportunity for the National Trust to tell the story of a modern building in an urban setting and broaden the range of 20th-century heritage it cares for, which includes 2 Willow Road in Hampstead and The Homewood in Surrey.

Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, said: “We are profoundly grateful to the Rogers family for placing this extraordinary house in our care. Their generosity means that 22 Parkside will now become part of our shared inheritance, belonging not to a single family but to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“This extraordinary gift will ensure that a building where world-changing ideas were born continues to inspire new generations of thinkers, makers and creators."

Lord Norman Foster, a pioneer of High-Tech architecture, said: "In many ways the building encapsulated the spirit of the 1960s. It was the essence of optimism. It is a tribute to the National Trust they have taken this initiative, this responsibility to preserve it for future generations, to visit, to enjoy."

Architect, broadcaster and National Trust Ambassador George Clarke, said: “For me, this is one of the most significant acquisitions in the National Trust’s recent history. 22 Parkside not only followed in the footsteps of some of the most iconic modern homes on earth, such as Farnsworth House by Mies Van Der Rohe (1951) and the Glass House by Philip Johnson (1948-49), it sowed the seeds of some of the most incredible, functional, modernist architecture Richard Rogers was to produce until his passing in 2021. This is one of the most significant homes in British architectural history.”

22 Parkside will open to the public for the day on Saturday 12 September as part of London’s Open House festival. A week later, festivalgoers will have a rare chance to step inside the Lloyd’s Building, where Rogers’s ideas from Parkside were used in astonishing ways, as part of the landmark’s 40^th anniversary celebrations.

To play a part in 22 Parkside’s next chapter and support the restoration of the internationally important building, or to contribute to the education and learning programme, visit 22 Parkside.