Goldschmied acquires Thames Wharf following bitter legal battle with ex-partner

Lord Richard Rogers has lost his headquarters to his former business partner after settling a long-running legal battle.

Marco Goldschmied’s firm has acquired the Thames Wharf site in Hammersmith, West London, home to Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, in an out-of-court settlement. The building also houses the famous River Café restaurant run by his wife Ruth Rogers.

Goldschmied already owned 40% of the property. He was said to be the brain behind the purchase of the then run down inductrial complex back in the 1980s. The value of the property is now estimated to be over £30m.

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners HQ at Thames Wharf

Former RIBA president Goldschmied was a founding partner and managing director of the Rogers partnership in 1977. He left the practice in bitter circumstances back in 2004.

The acquisition of this site will enable Goldschmied to put his vision for a zero carbon solution for existing buildings into practice.

He said: “It is my aim to ensure that under my stewardship Thames Wharf can become a zero-carbon development and can be used to persuade other developers and landowners to do more than the minimum required by current legislation.”

Goldschmied has also pledged that whilst the existing leases run their course, he will allocate 10% of all rental profits from the complex to a dedicated zero carbon fund to be used in the renewal and upgrading of existing buildings to minimise their environmental impact.

The River Cafe and the offices have got leases to 2015.

A satisfactory agreement has also been reached on the lease of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.