A modernist 1930s Kingston Hill house packed with sculptures and Russian artefacts is to be opened up to a wider public.

Dorich House has been granted museum status, allowing owners Kingston University to raise enough money to open it more often.

The house, designed and built by sculptor Dora Gordine and her art collector husband Richard Hare in 1936, is currently only open two or three times a year.

But curators hope new funding will allow it to open up to six times a year, including a week-long relaunch exhibition in autumn. It will also help the university make Dorich a contraction of the names Dora and Richard more accessible to disabled people.

Ms Gordine was an internationally renowned sculptor and the house contains almost 100 of her pieces, as well as her husband's unique collection of Imperial Russian Art.

Mr Hare died in 1966 and Ms Gordine died in 1991 without an heir and the house was offered for public ownership without success. Kingston University stepped in with a £750,000 restoration scheme in 1994, saving the house from dereliction.

The house was opened to the public on a limited basis from 1997 but the university had to raise much of the money for its upkeep by hiring it out for private functions.

The house will continue to be available for functions but curator Brenda Martin said the new status would mean it could host more public tours and lectures.

She said: "It's a real delight, this house. It's a modernist 1930s building, designed by the artist herself. It's got a wow factor. There's beautiful Russian Imperial art which you can't see anywhere else."

Curators have recently restored two 19th century Russian empire chairs and museum visitors will be able to learn how they were restored.

A Dorich House open day will be held on Saturday, September 11, and the museum's relaunch exhibition will run from Thursday, September 30, to Wednesday, October 6, from 10.30am to 4pm, except Sunday, October 3, when it is closed.

Free guided tours, which must be booked in advance, will be available on September 11, September 30, October 2 and October 3. For more information or to book a tour call Dorich House on 020 8547 7519 or go to www.kingston.ac.uk/ dorich.

sbrody@london.newsquest.co.uk