Richard Rogers on Modern Architecture

Written during what architect Richard Rogers saw as a moment of crisis in modern architecture, this essay explores how the way we build—and live—could change for the better. Roger argues that poor design, monotony and inhuman scale are not the results of a lack of talent nor the failures of the Modern movement. Rather, these issues arise as a result of exploitative economic systems and businesses that put profit above people.

Best known for his work on the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and the Lloyd's building and Millennium Dome in London, Rogers was one of the most original and inventive architect of his time. He was a frequent commentator on the contemporary scene. As a practitioner, he was in the best position possible to appreciate how economic forces can create—or frustrate—good design. A succinct summary of his design philosophies, Richard Rogers on Modern Architecture continues to be a powerful manifesto.