Dorich House Museum

Name: Dorich House Museum
Address: Dorich House, 67-69 Kingston Vale, London, SW153RN, GB
Telephone: +442084175515
Price range: £
Rating: 4.9

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Dorich House Museum

Dorich House Museum is the former home of the Estonian Sculptor Dora Gordine. Please check back in January for information on our reopening.

Kingston University's Dorich House Museum is currently closed in line with government guidelines.

15/03/2025

Today we led our first guided tour designed for people with visual impairments!

We were really pleased to be able to welcome the group from Kingston Association for the Blind. Creating descriptions for the rooms in the museum along with some of the art works has been a great opportunity to reexamine our space and collection and view them through a different lens.

We were also able to lead a handling session of a select few sculptures to really bring them to life. The group particularly enjoyed being able to feel Dora Gordine’s signature in the base of her sculpture ‘Iran’.

If you’d be interested in organising a guided tour for a group with visual impairments, make sure to contact us through our email - [email protected]

13/03/2025

It’s that time of year again when the late afternoon sun hits Pagan and makes her look even more beautiful! 🌞

Pagan (also known as Femina) was created by Dora Gordine in 1933 during her time in south east Asia. She is a testament to Gordine’s knowledge and love of Indian art, which she drew inspiration from for this piece.

Pagan sits in a prime position in the Gallery, the same position in which she was displayed when Gordine and Hare occupied the house. The windows that surround her allow the sun to rest on her figure and accentuate the form.

Make sure to make a visit to the museum this spring and enjoy the effects of the natural light! 🏡

15/02/2025

Thanks to everyone who came to the Here, Somewhere exhibition guided tours with today along with the amazing dance performance from Keira Chalmers-Rix! 💃

So great to see so many people engaging with the exhibition and viewing the house and its history through a different lens.

01/02/2025

Have you seen Dora Gordine’s sculpture ‘Flawless Crystal’ on display at Kingston Museum yet?

The museum’s K-Women exhibition focuses on celebrating Korean female artists and explores their experiences of settling and self-discovery in new places. The representation of K-Women is extended to include female artists associated with Kingston too, and so Dora Gordine, who spent the majority of her life in Kingston after arriving via Eastern Europe and South East Asia, has taken her rightful place within the exhibition!

It’s exciting to see Gordine’s work considered in a new context and surrounded by so many other amazing art works. How similar might Gordine’s experience of migrating to a new place have been to some of the other women who share their experiences in this exhibition?

Don’t miss the exhibition at Kingston Museum:
Until 8th March 2025
10am-5pm ⏰
Thursday-Saturday 🗓️
Free entry 🎟️

- follow them here!

23/01/2025

Dorich House Museum reopened to the public today and what a great day it was to get going again!

We had our first guided tour of 2025 taking place, as well as the group working on their Blue Cornflowers tapestry in the Modelling Studio.

The Blue Cornflowers tapestry is a recreation of a painting by Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymacheko. In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many paintings by Prymachenko were destroyed. This inspired the Ariadne’s Thread Group to commence work on the cross stitch recreation of Blue Cornflowers as a way of fostering community, originally for those displaced by the war but the project has since grown beyond this. Thanks you to everyone who visited today and took part!

To stay up to date with what’s on at Dorich House Museum make sure to keep following our social media pages and sign up to our newsletter!

14/01/2025

Have you ever seen this unique building while walking in Richmond Park? That’s us! 🏡

We’re celebrating day with by highlighting the connection between Dorich House Museum and Richmond Park.

While we love being able to look out of our windows and see beautiful greenery in the summer, as the leaves fall away more of the park becomes visible and the experience of looking out of our windows is transformed, giving us a better chance of spotting our friendly neighbours, the 630+ deer! 🦌

Whichever side of the wall you are on, the views between Dorich House Museum and Richmond Park are special. Next time you’re out for a walk in the park, make sure to come and give us a visit!

📍We’re in between the Robin Hood Gate and the Ladderstile Gate of Richmond Park.

🗓️ We reopen to the public on Thursday 23rd January and will be open Thurs-Sat 11am-5pm.

🎟️ Free to enter!

03/01/2025

Have you ever seen Dora Gordine’s work in public?

On Warwick Court, Gray’s Inn Place, London (just off High Holborn), you’ll find a low-relief portrait by Dora Gordine commemorating Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), the ‘Father of the Chinese Republic’. This plaque, unveiled in 1946, commemorates Sun’s brief stay in a house on this location while in exile during the 1890s.

Following the Chinese Revolution of October 1911, Sun was appointed the first president of the new Republic of China but lasted only forty-five days before resigning. The following year he was again forced the flee the country and spent the rest of his life trying to regain the presidency. The Nationalist Party, which he founded to be his vehicle to regain power, would eventually be defeated by Mao Zedong’s Communist Party to end the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Securing the commission in 1944, it is likely that Gordine’s pre-war identification with oriental subject matter, along with articles she published on Chinese art, helped with her selection. The Sun Yat-sen memorial committee also had connections to British United Aid to China led by Gordine’s long time admirer Lady Isobel Cripps, as well as the China Campaign Committee led by her brother-in-law William Hare, the Earl of Listowel.

Gordine had won many plaudits for her portraiture and figure sculptures over this time and appeared particularly adept at producing what Brenda Martin and Jonathan Black have called ‘idiosyncratic and yet formally accessible’ public sculpture.

Next time you are in central London make sure to keep an eye out for this hidden gem of Dora Gordine’s work!

29/12/2024

On the 29th December 1991, 33 years ago today, Dora Gordine passed away in her home, Dorich House, at the age of 96 after suffering a stroke. Dora left behind a legacy of creativity and a remarkable vision for her cherished home.

Dorich House, completed in 1936, served as Dora’s home and studio for 55 years. Following the passing of her husband, Richard Hare, in 1966, she spent 25 years as the sole occupant, dedicated to preserving their shared love for Russian art and cultural heritage.

Dora and Richard had always envisioned Dorich House becoming a museum to protect and share their art collection. While initial efforts with organisations like the National Trust and the V&A were unsuccessful, their dream was realised when Kingston University took ownership in 1994. Thanks to an extensive restoration project, Dorich House Museum officially opened to the public in 1996.

Today, Dorich House Museum stands as a vibrant space for art, history and learning, reflecting the spirit of its founders. Explore the fascinating stories of Dora Gordine, Richard Hare, their 1930s studio home and their treasured art collection when we reopen on 23rd January 2025.

Plan your visit to Dorich House Museum and experience a unique piece of cultural history.

20/12/2024

Dorich House Museum is now closed for our winter break. We will reopen on Thursday 23rd January at 11am and resume our normal opening times of 11am-5pm Thursday to Saturday. 🗓️

Keep an eye out on our social media pages for news and events in the new year, or sign up to our newsletter via our website. ‼️

Tickets are already selling for our January Guided Tours taking place on Thursday 23rd and 30th at 11am (see the link in our bio for tickets), so if you are planning to visit make sure to book! 🎟️

Thank you to all those who have contributed to make Dorich House Museum the vibrant space of creativity, learning and enjoyment that it is, and thank you to everyone who has visited and shared the space with us in 2024. 👏

The Dorich House Museum Team wishes you all the best over the festive period and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!✨

12/12/2024

The final instalment of ‘s exhibition ‘Here, Somewhere’ has now been installed in the modelling studio at Dorich House Museum ✨

We have no evidence of what the bedroom in Dorich House looked like during Dora Gordine and Richard Hare’s lives, and so Birch has decided to imagine their sleeping arrangement as toe to toe 🛏️💭 This poetic interpretation of an intimate yet undocumented space leads us to consider how q***r relationship structures can work.

‘Here, Somewhere: Queering Dorich House’ will be on display at Dorich House Museum until March 2025. Make sure to come and visit! 🏠

***rhistory ***rheritage ***rarchitecture

09/12/2024

The creativity was in full flow at the Christmas Craft Workshop ran by on Saturday! It was great to learn some new metal embossing techniques and the end products were beautiful.

Thanks to everyone who came and to Anna for running a great workshop!

05/12/2024

We love to see our modelling studio being used to its full potential!

Today we had a group of Kingston University music students performing in a public concert.

Thank you again to all the performers, you were amazing!

29/11/2024

📣Upcoming events at Dorich House Museum | December 2024

We are delighted to announce the programme for Dorich House Museum’s Winter Weekend 2024. Join us for a tour, music concert or craft activity – or simply stop by the museum to see our latest exhibition Here, Somewhere and browse our museum shop. You can also enjoy coffee and cake in our Studio Café, and enjoy the beautiful Christmas tree in our Modelling Studio.

Highlights include:
1. Lunchtime Music Concert
1pm Thursday 5 December | Free | Drop-In
A special music concert performed by Kingston University students. The drop in concert will be held in the museum’s beautiful Modelling Studio.

2. Guided tours
11am Thursday 5 December and Saturday 7 December | £5 | Booking via website

3. Christmas Craft Workshop with Artist Anna Milgrom
From 1pm – 4pm Saturday 7 December | £5 | Booking via website
Join us for an enjoyable and relaxing workshop creating unique Christmas decorations. Taking inspiration from the museum’s collections, practicing artist Anna Milgrom will guide you to design, emboss, shape and adorn your metal decoration – creating a unique piece ready to take home and hang on your Christmas tree.

For booking the guided tours and art workshop, see the Dorich House website

24/10/2024

A visit to Dorich House Museum in Autumn is not to be missed. Set at an angle on a generous plot, Dorich House is oriented so that the Plaster Studio on the ground and the Modelling Studio on the first floor, face due North with vast expanses of Crittall windows to maximise daylight, but never direct sunlight.
This aspect provides the perfect, even light level to work in and affords magnificent views of neighbouring Richmond Park, for practicing artists and visitors alike.
Gordine designed the house with framed views in mind, every window affording wonderful visas of nature and the changing seasonal landscape.

Visit for a self guided tour or see our website for new guided tour dates for November.

17/10/2024

A visit to Dorich House in Autumn is not to be missed. Set at an angle on a generous plot, Dorich House is oriented so that the Plaster Studio on the ground and the Modelling Studio on the first floor, face due North with vast expanses of Crittall windows to maximise daylight, but never direct sunlight.
This aspect provides the perfect, even light level to work in and affords magnificent views of neighbouring Richmond Park, for practicing artists and visitors alike.
Gordine designed the house with framed views in mind, every window affording wonderful visas of nature and the changing seasonal landscape.

03/10/2024

📣CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
We’re looking for new volunteers to join our small, friendly team for a few hours on a Friday or Saturday (11am-2pm or 2pm-5pm) to invigilate our art collection and to prepare and serve teas, coffees, and cakes in our ground floor café.
No previous experience required – we will provide full training - just a friendly, welcoming attitude and an interest in what we do. You must be aged 18+ to volunteer with us and to be able to commit to a minimum of one volunteering session a month.

To register your interest please contact: [email protected]

26/09/2024

New guided tour dates have just been added for October and we still have a couple of spaces left on our 11 30am tour on Friday 27 September.

Join one of our wonderful volunteer guides on a one-hour tour of Dorich House, where you’ll learn more about the building, collections and Dora Gordine and Richare Hare’s lives. To view all available dates and to book your spot, Please visit our website.

20/09/2024

We are delighted to be taking part in London’s Open House Festival this year, running from 14 – 22 September. During the festival we’ll be extending our usual open days to include Sunday 22 September.

Open House Festival is a London-wide festival that opens up and celebrates the city’s architecture, special sites and neighbourhoods, with open days and events taking place across all 33 London Boroughs.

Visit Dorich House this weekend and discover a unique 1930’s studio home. Designed by Gordine as a home and workplace for herself and her husband, the building is eclectic, not fitting neatly into any architectural style. In designing the house, Gordine drew on references from her previous homes and the countries she had lived – Latvia, Estonia, France, and Malaysia to create a ‘dream home’ designed from the inside out, with the interiors in mind rather than grand façades.

Image: Dora Gordine and Richard Hare on the rooftop of Dorich House © Historic England

Address

Dorich House, 67-69 Kingston Vale
London
SW153RN

Telephone

+442084175515

Website

http://www.dorichhousemuseum.org.uk/

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Videos

What a night at Dorich House Museum! As part of our current exhibition ‘Here, Somewhere: Queering Dorich House’ artist @honeybirchstudio hosted a housewarming party to celebrate and enjoy their work while adding a new element to the installation. Birch invited a selection of guests to bring a ‘housewarming gift’ of their choice for one night only. The objects came from a variety of queer/LGBT+ homes spanning multiple generations and were placed around the apartment creating an environment which felt as though it was being lived in by queer people today. These simple objects were accompanied by a statement from their owners explaining why they belonged in a queer home. And, for one night only, we had a chance to get in the bed! 🛌 All of the objects were photographed on the night and will be compiled into a zine by Birch along with the statements. Keep an eye out if you want to get your hands on one of these. 👀 A huge thank you to Honey Birch for hosting the event and to all those who contributed with music, photography and personal objects. Birch will be leading two specialised guided tours of the Museum on Saturday 15th February. As part of the tour, Kingston University Dance student Keira Chalmers-Rix will be delivering a performance inspired by the exhibition. Tickets are free but make sure to book your spot through the link in our bio! 🎟️ #queerart #kingstonuniversity #housemuseum #queermuseum #artinstallation

For this year's 'Edible England' themed Heritage Open Days, we're sharing two of Dora Gordine's recipes on our website so you can try making them at home. You can get the recipes for Kisses (biscuits) and Smorkorr (scones, pictured below) here: https://www.dorichhousemuseum.org.uk/2021/09/10/heritage-open-days-2021-dora-gordines-recipes/

It's National Lottery Open Week! Since our Squatter Years Project wouldn't have been possible without the NLHF, we're celebrating by sharing the video from our recent online talk on Dora Gordine & Dorich House, which you can watch here: https://www.dorichhousemuseum.org.uk/2021/06/05/national-lottery-open-week-friendship-life-legacy-video/ #ThanksToYou

Free online event! Hidden Histories: Squatting and Raves at Dorich House on 22 April will feature artist Laura Grace Ford in conversation with four fascinating people who visited the house in the 1990s when it was inhabited by squatters. Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hidden-histories-squatting-and-raves-at-dorich-house-in-the-1990s-tickets-149891897701

The first strand of our Squatter Years Project is now on our website! Discover the fascinating stories of some of the 'lost objects' in Dora Gordine and Richard Hare's Russian collection in an online publication written by our wonderful project volunteers. https://www.dorichhousemuseum.org.uk/projects/the-squatter-years/

Our Russian Winter Weekend talks have ended, but the weekend's not over yet! Check out our website: https://www.dorichhousemuseum.org.uk/news-events/ for beautiful new photos of some of our Russian icons, and fun activities for the whole family over the Christmas season, including a free colouring book inspired by our Russian collection by Museum Assistant Kyle Campbell-Pope and the recipe for our cafe's delicious gingerbread cake, along with a short cooking demonstration. If you take part in either activity, please tag us - we'd love to see what you create! And don't forget that the museum is open for pre-booked visits next Friday and Saturday, and we still have a few slots available, which you can book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dorich-house-museum-visit-december-2020-tickets-130783373591

The holidays have arrived at Dorich House Museum this weekend. There’s still time for you to book your tickets to join us for our festive weekend next week, 7-9 December. Tickets for our Russian concert are still available with 7 Star Arts so don’t miss out as tickets must be booked in advance!

Dorich House Museum Roof Terrace

Come and enjoy the sunshine this weekend on our roof terrace with a view over Richmond Park