National Trust Acquires Richard Rogers’ Radical High-Tech House in Wimbledon 2026

Key Points

• Iconic Handover: The groundbreaking High-Tech home located at 22 Parkside, Wimbledon, designed by architects Richard and Su Rogers, has been formally transferred to the National Trust.
• Architectural Significance: Constructed from 1968 to 1970 for the parents of Lord Rogers, the Grade II* listed building acted as the prototype design for later iconic structures, such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and Lloyd’s Building in London.
• Innovative Architecture: Featuring bright yellow steel portal frames, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and open living spaces, the house continues to be a notable example of pre-fabricated industrial domestic architecture in Britain.
• Previous Ownership: Before it became the property of the National Trust, the building was donated to the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2015 as a home to visiting fellows after restoration carried out by Gumuchdjian Architects.
• Future Conservation: The future plan of the National Trust is to conserve the house in order to promote modernist architecture of the 20th century while preserving its structure and layout along with its natural landscape setting.

(South London News) September 9, 2026 – 22 Parkside, the world-renowned residential property designed by architects Lord Richard Rogers and Su Rogers, has officially been acquired by the National Trust. The single-storey High-Tech masterpiece, originally constructed between 1968 and 1970 as a home for Lord Rogers’ parents, Dr William Nino and Dada Rogers, represents a pivotal milestone in British post-war architecture. Known historically as the Rogers House or Wimbledon House, the Grade II* listed home has been gifted to the heritage conservation organisation to secure its long-term future, public access, and ongoing structural preservation.

Situated opposite Wimbledon Common in south-west London, the property is widely celebrated as a blueprint for industrialised residential construction. As reported by architecture correspondent Maev Kennedy, Lord Richard Rogers previously stated that the flexible modular design served as a direct precursor to his later monumental creations, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris—co-designed with Renzo Piano—and the Grade I listed Lloyd’s Building in the City of London. The acquisition by the National Trust marks a transition from its recent role as an academic residency venue into a permanently safeguarded piece of national design history.

What makes 22 Parkside a landmark in modern architecture?

The property stands as one of the most significant surviving examples of early British High-Tech residential design. Built using a long-life steel portal frame structure painted in vibrant yellow, 22 Parkside introduced radical structural and aesthetic principles to 1960s suburban Britain. The design features full-height glazed facades, prefabricated dry-construction components, and synthetic neoprene gaskets, allowing internal spaces to remain entirely open and adaptable.

Divided into two main structures separated by a central landscaped courtyard, the site includes a front lodge building—originally designated as a pottery studio and flat for Dada Rogers—and a larger main house nestled further back amongst surrounding woodland. The main interior contains an expanse of open-plan living space, combining the kitchen, dining, and sitting areas, which was directly inspired by Lord Rogers’ childhood in Italy and his family’s love of communal culinary culture.

Heritage assessments by English Heritage noted four primary justifications for the building’s Grade II* listing:

• Architectural and structural interest: Its pioneering status as a fully realised, steel-framed High-Tech home in the United Kingdom.
• Historic importance: Its role as an early, highly intact work by one of the 20th century’s most influential architectural partnerships.
• Experimental material usage: The use of factory-finished components, lightweight steel, and dry construction techniques enabling flexible internal layout adjustments.
• Structural intactness: The clear legibility of its original design intent, main built-in fittings, and open spatial arrangement.

How did 22 Parkside transition from a family home to a public gift?

Following its completion in 1970, the house remained in the Rogers family for decades. In 1998, architect Ab Rogers, son of Richard and Su Rogers, moved into the property with his family, making subtle adaptations to suit modern domestic living while maintaining the integrity of the original structure.

In 2015, Lord Richard Rogers and Lady Ruth Rogers gifted the property to the Harvard Graduate School of Design (Harvard GSD). To prepare the building for its new role hosting academic researchers and international fellows, a major restoration project was commissioned and led by Gumuchdjian Architects—a practice founded by Philip Gumuchdjian, who worked alongside the Richard Rogers Partnership for nearly two decades.

As noted by project architect Michael Ramwell during the restoration process, the project required replacing asbestos-filled external wall panels, updating servicing systems, restoring the roof, and creating seamless wetroom installations in the lodge using HI-MACS® solid surfaces. Philip Gumuchdjian explained that the overarching ethos was to restore the house to its original architectural expression using modern, durable materials rather than attempting to save degraded fabric, ensuring the building remained functionally viable.

The transfer of the property to the National Trust guarantees that the house will no longer rely on institutional academic stewardship alone, shifting its management into a public-facing heritage framework dedicated to structural conservation and education.

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Background of the particular development

The acquisition of 22 Parkside by the National Trust comes after years of growing recognition regarding the vulnerability of 20th-century modernist architecture in the United Kingdom. While historic estates and medieval structures have traditionally dominated the National Trust’s architectural portfolio, the inclusion of post-war modernist gems has steadily expanded over recent decades.

Designed by Team 4 alumni Richard and Su Rogers, 22 Parkside was conceived during an era when traditional brick-and-timber housebuilding dominated British suburbs. The Rogerses sought to demonstrate that industrial techniques, prefabricated steel, and transparent glass facades could create human-centred, light-filled domestic environments. The project won immediate international acclaim and established foundational principles that defined Lord Rogers’ career, leading up to his Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2007.

In 2013, the UK Government granted 22 Parkside Grade II* listed status—a designation reserved for the top 10 per cent of all listed buildings in England. Former Heritage Minister Ed Vaizey highlighted at the time that despite Lord Rogers’ reputation for towering global monuments, the Wimbledon home represented an indispensable masterwork from an imaginative era in private residential design. The decision to transfer the property to the National Trust represents the final stage in safeguarding 22 Parkside against future commercial redevelopment, private alteration, or structural neglect.

How will this development affect architecture enthusiasts, conservationists, and the local community?

The transfer of 22 Parkside to the National Trust will have a substantial impact on several key groups:

1. Architecture Enthusiasts and Students: The public acquisition will provide unprecedented access to a landmark that was previously held in private hands or restricted to academic fellows. Visitors will be able to experience first-hand the spatial fluidity, daylighting, and industrial material execution that defined early British High-Tech design, offering an educational resource for future generations of designers.
2. Heritage and Conservation Professionals: The management of a 1960s steel-and-glass structure poses unique conservation challenges compared to traditional stone or timber properties. The National Trust’s ongoing maintenance of 22 Parkside will set crucial standards for preserving post-war materials, prefabricated panels, and specialized glazing systems, serving as a case study for mid-century modern preservation across the UK.
3. The Local Wimbledon Community: Nearby residents and local conservation bodies will benefit from the permanent protection of the site’s wooded plot on Parkside. Preserving the property’s setback, mature trees, and surrounding gardens prevents high-density suburban redevelopment along Wimbledon Common, maintaining the historic and architectural character of the surrounding conservation area.