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20 May 2011
Richard Rogers presents his best works
Richard Rogers + Architects: From the House to the City
Pritzker Prize-winning British Architect Richard Rogers and his practice,Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, are presenting over 40 years of their best works in an exclusive exhibition, in collaboration with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), entitled “Richard Rogers + Architects: From the House to the City.”
The exhibition is unveiled by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, today and will be exhibited at The URA Centre ground floor atrium from 21 May to 23 July 2011. It is part of URA’s continuing efforts to promote architectural and urban design excellence in Singapore. Following the formal exhibition opening on 20 May 2011, Richard Rogers, together with his partners Graham Stirk and Ivan Harbour will share their design philosophies and insights into some of their major groundbreaking projects around the world at a public lecture organised by URA.
Richard Rogers said: “Singapore is one of the most important and beautiful urban hubs in the world. We’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to showcase our work in a city that places such a strong emphasis on encouraging good architecture and urban design. Good design can help address many social and environmental concerns and improve the quality of our lives. We hope that this exhibition will highlight and spur on greater discourse on the importance of creating distinctive buildings and public spaces that are fundamental to better living.”
Ivan Harbour commented: “We have worked in Singapore for more than a decade and produced schemes ranging from private housing to major masterplans which respond to the local constraints of land use and climate. As well as highlighting our experience on the ground, this exhibition aims to demonstrate the wide-ranging nature of our designs across the world – from airports and parliament buildings to commercial and residential schemes. We are excited by the opportunities it offers for direct engagement with people of all ages as well as more generally highlighting the challenges which architects have to overcome to deliver their designs.”
Referring to the aim of the exhibition, Graham Stirk said: “This exhibition attempts to give visitors an insight into the narrative of our design approach and the language of architecture which we employ across all our work. We hope that it will encourage anyone with an interest in the design or commissioning of buildings to take a fresh look at their surroundings and realise the great value that can be achieved in the careful understanding of architecture and its relationship within the built environment.”
Promoting architecture and urban design excellence
“Richard Rogers + Architects: From the House to the City” provides new opportunities for Singaporeans to rediscover the beauty and importance of quality architecture in Singapore’s urban environment. Mr Ng Lang, URA Chief Executive Officer said: "The importance of good architecture cannot be underestimated. Our buildings and urban environment represent both cultural capital and financial investment. Great architecture creates value and distinction through innovation and creative design. Great architecture also helps us record and remember who we are as a people and a nation. Over the past few years, URA has been proactively encouraging architectural and urban design excellence and this is paying off with more quality designs and a stronger demand for them.”
About Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers has gained international acclaim as one of the most influential architects of our time. He is often described as ‘the last humanist’, in his quest and dedication to create beautiful public spaces that encapsulates the diversity and complexity of our contemporary world. He was honoured as the 2007 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the highest honour presented to a living architect, whose built work demonstrates a combination of talent, vision and commitment and who has consistently made significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through architecture.
He was knighted in 1991 and made a Life Peer in 1996, one of the highest honours bestowed by the government in the United Kingdom (UK) in recognition of the outstanding contributions of an individual to the country. Rogers also received the Royal Gold Medal for architecture in 1985, given by the Royal Institute of British Architects, in recognition of Rogers’ significant achievements in – and contribution to – international architecture. He was Chief Advisor on Architecture and Urbanism to the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and has played an advisory role on design to Boris Johnson, the current Mayor of London. He has acted as Chairman of the UK Government’s Urban Task Force and was a member of Barcelona’s Urban Strategies Advisory Council.
Rogers and his partners have played a key role in proactively shaping the quality of architecture and urban design in the UK with landmark projects including Lloyd’s of London, the Millennium Dome (the largest structure of its kind in the world) and Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, all in London as well as the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. Rogers is also well known for high-profile and iconic projects outside the United Kingdom including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Terminal 4, Barajas Airport in Madrid and Tower 3 on the World Trade Center site in New York. His work – and the work of his practice – has helped shape the development of some of the world’s great cities like Paris, Shanghai, Berlin, Lisbon, New York and Sydney. In the later part of his career, Rogers has devoted much of his time to wider city planning issues he is passionate about, namely architecture, urbanism and sustainability.
Please see Annex A for detailed CVs of Richard Rogers and his partners, Graham Stirk and Ivan Harbour.
About the exhibition
“Richard Rogers + Architects: From the House to the City”, designed by Ab Rogers Design, premiered in Centre Pompidou, Paris, in 2007. The exhibition has since travelled to London, Barcelona, Madrid and Taipei, attracting more than half a million visitors to date. Singapore is its first Southeast Asian venue.
Starting with Richard’s early projects with the well-known British architect Norman Foster (together with Wendy Foster and Su Rogers) in the 1960s and the Pompidou Centre, Paris with Italian architect Renzo Piano in the 1970s, and covering significant projects from the Lloyd’s of London building and Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport, Madrid, to the innovative Zip-Up House of 1968 and his proposals for Shanghai’s Lu Jia Zui urban development, the exhibition offers an enlightening and insightful journey into how architecture has shaped cities and transformed lives around the world. More details about the exhibition are in Annex B.
“Richard Rogers + Architects: From the House to the City” will be exhibited at the atrium on the first storey of The URA Centre (45 Maxwell Road) from 21 May to 23 July 2011. Opening hours are: Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 7.00 pm; Saturday, 8.30am – 4.30 pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Admission is free. The exhibition is generously supported by UOL Group Limited, Singapore Land Limited and Como Holdings Inc. UOL Group, with Singapore Land and Kheng Leong Co, is in collaboration with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to develop a 40,000 sqm residential site in Changfeng, Shanghai.
About Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Over more than three decades, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) has attracted critical acclaim for its work across the world. Two of the practice’s designs – Terminal 4, Barajas Airport, Madrid (2006) and Maggie’s London, Charing Cross Hospital (2009) – have been recognised as winners of the Stirling Prize, the UK’s highest award for architecture. Most recently, RSHP has completed One Hyde Park, a luxury residential development in Knightsbridge, London and Las Arenas, a cultural, leisure and office development within the preserved façade of an historic bullring in Barcelona.
The practice is currently working on an extension to the British Museum and NEO Bankside, a residential scheme opposite Tate Modern, both in London. Elsewhere, it is involved in delivering a wide range of projects across four continents, including the headquarters for BBVA Bancomer in Mexico City; Tower 3 on the World Trade Center site in New York; Barangaroo, a major new city quarter in Sydney; a number of major residential projects in Asian cities including Hong Kong, Taipei, Ningbo and Shanghai, where the practice is designing a scheme for a 40,000 sq m site some 10km west of the city centre; and the Greater Paris consultation which looks at the future of the city as a more integrated metropolitan region as it faces the social and environmental challenges of the 21st century. More details about RSHP are available in Annex C, or visit www.rsh-p.com
About URA’s Architecture & Urban Design Excellence (A•UDE) Programme
URA's Architecture & Urban Design Excellence (A•UDE) programme was set up to promote good design in Singapore’s built environment. The programme seeks to raise public awareness of good architecture and urban design and encourage a more vibrant and design-conscious community. A variety of initiatives and outreach programmes are organised for both the general public and industry professionals. These include exhibitions, talks, seminars, workshops and design competitions. For more information, please visit us at www.ura.gov.sg/aude.
About UOL Group Limited
UOL Group Ltd is one of Singapore’s leading public-listed property companies with an extensive portfolio in investment and development properties, hotels and serviced suites. With a track record of more than 40 years, UOL strongly believes in delivering product excellence and quality service in all its business ventures. For more information, please visit www.uol.com.sg
About Singapore Land Limited
Singapore Land Limited (SingLand) is a listed subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation Limited, one of Singapore’s premier public-listed property companies. The Companies’ portfolio include some of Singapore’s best known commercial landmarks in the Central Business District, as well as Marina Square, a massive shopping, entertainment, commercial and hotel complex in the Marina Bay area. For more information, please visit www.singland.com.sg
