Charles Jencks, 78, the co-founder of Maggie’s Centres, which support cancer patients, wants to give 90-minute tours to visitors to his £5.5 million villa in Holland Park. It houses his archive, including original plans by Norman Foster, Richard Rogers and Dame Zaha Hadid.
Mr Jencks, a Harvard graduate central to the post-modernist architecture movement, set up Maggie’s in the Nineties with his wife Maggie Keswick-Jencks, prior to her death from the disease.
He believes the transformation of his home would provide a “significant cultural benefit” to London. A planning application submitted to Kensington and Chelsea council states that he “has considered the option of handing over the archives to a university but has decided to retain [them]”.
But some neighbours close to Mr Jencks’ house in Lansdowne Walk are fighting the plans for it to open between 9.30am and 5pm for visits by appointment. Sixteen objections have been lodged by residents.
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