#Sir Terence Conran

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Dieter Rams for Braun, 1962/1963. Wall Mounted Audio 2/3 (components: control TS45, reel-to-reel tape recorder TG60, slim speakers L450, record player PCS5), (Image 1 credit: Matthew Donaldson) Dieter Rams design ethos was very clearly codified by himself in ten legendary principles for good design: 1. Good design is innovative; 2. Good design makes a product useful; 3. Good design is aesthetic; 4. Good design makes a product understandable; 5. Good design is unobtrusive; 6. Good design is honest; 7. Good design is long-lasting; 8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail; 9. Good design is environmentally friendly; 10. Good design is as little design as possible

Dieter Rams, Nicolas Ghesquière, Sir Terence Conran, Lord Norman Foster, Jasper Morrison and Sir Paul Smith are among the design stars to give their support to the protection of design patent rights.

more info: — https://braunaudio.de/en/braun-hifi-wall-unit-wandanlage-stereo-system-60ties/ — https://designwanted.com/design-icons-dieter-rams/

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Mystery Solved! Pippa Middleton and James Matthews have purchased Sir Terence Conran's previous estate in Berkshire: Barton Court.

Reports about the Princess of Wales' sister Pippa's new estate in Berkshire have been quite vague, but today I finally found the planning permits.

The Matthews paid £15 million for Barton Court, located in Kintbury, Hungerford, Berkshire.

"Barton Court was built in 1772 for Admiral Lord Dundas: a typical, red-brick, early Georgian house of five bays with a projecting central open-pedimented entrance front, enhanced by round-headed windows in the upper storeys."

The top yellow star in the right part of the above map is the estate where Michael and Carol Middleton live in Bucklebury, and the solid red dot on the left is the location of James and Pippa Matthews' new estate. Close enough for a short car drive to visit, but far enough apart to allow each family some private time.

The planning permit request is for "Relocation of an outdoor swimming pool and construction of a tennis court within the walled garden, and conversion of a potting shed to associated changing room and plant room."

Below is the celebrated walled garden that will be replaced with tennis courts and possibly a very large swimming pool:

Sir Terence Conran was a famous British designer who passed away in September 2020. He founded the Habitat and Conran shops. He was also renowned for designing restaurants, office buildings and stores. Conran ran several restaurants and wrote more than 50 books about design.

House and Garden UK did a nice feature on the property with many color photos taken by Princess Margaret's ex-husband, if you're curious about the interior of Pippa's new home.

From the article: "In earlier days a stone-flagged hallway ran from the door to the stairway between the enclosing walls of adjacent rooms. These rooms have now been gutted to provide a combined hall and living room of vast area: over a hundred feet in length." Looks like the original tile is still in place.

Apparently, some of the family of Sir Terence Conran was very upset that his estate was sold, as it was said to have been his dream for the estate to remain in the family.

"Both the house and the estate, according to one visitor, were to be 'overseen by the Conran family'. But no longer: I can reveal that the house has been sold for £15 million, despite Conran's vision, which included selling fruit and vegetables from greenhouses and a massive walled garden.

Members of the family appear to be in the dark about quite why the sale has gone ahead. One tells me that it is the executors of Conran's will who are selling the property, not his widow, Lady Conran.

The interior designer Vicki Davis married Sir Terence in 2000 at Chelsea Town Hall. His children — Sebastian and Jasper by his second wife, Superwoman author Shirley Conran, and Tom, Sophie and Ned by his third, cookery writer Caroline Herbert — only learned of it later.

That was no accident: Conran's children, it was playfully said, needed an appointment to see him.

The executors of his will decline to comment. But I can disclose that Vicki has already left the house and a new family has moved in."

Little did we know in June 2022 that it was Pippa Middleton and her family who bought the estate!

But here is another article interviewing Conran's widow, Vicki. She felt the house was too much for one person to maintain, and that none of his many children would want the upkeep. Conran apparently did not die of Covid either. It's a good article, detailing his vast collections and giving you a better idea of what he was like. After living there 50 years, Conran's widow was given 8 weeks to pack up everything and move out by the new owners...

Here is the planning application map showing the property outline:

Interestingly, the large buildings to the left of Barton Court are actually a very large custom furniture workshop and retail store. The owner, Sean Sutcliffe, "met Terence Conran and a firm friendship was made over a shared interest in making, wood, design and sustainability. They founded Benchmark together and our workshop and showroom are situated in the grounds of Terence’s country home."

That should prove very interesting for Pippa and family - perhaps those who are royal watchers might plan to do some furniture shopping in the near future! I'm sure, however, that the Matthews family will have plans in place to secure the perimeter of their new estate - or perhaps Mr. Matthews will just buy Benchmark Furniture outright and have its premises moved. Pretty sure he can afford it, since they recently sold their Chelsea mansion for £22.5 million, £5.5 million more than he paid for it.

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Architectural Alchemy: Decoding the Anagram of the Design Museum and OMA's Grand Design

The Design Museum, a sanctuary of contemporary design, unfolds its narrative through a linguistic maze. An anagram transforms it into 'het DEIGNS USE MUM,' weaving a tale that transcends architecture, sexuality, and the echoes of memory.

At its core, the museum is an homage to Sir Terence Conran's vision, founded in 1989. Relocating to Kensington in 2016, it underwent a metamorphosis orchestrated by architectural virtuosos OMA, Allies and Morrison, and Arup. John Pawson's design prowess turned it into a 10,000 sqm masterpiece—a testament to interdisciplinary collaboration.

But what about the anagram? 'het DEIGNS USE MUM' unravels like a secret code. 'USE' reflects the museum's purpose—utilizing spaces for a global design hub. 'DEIGNS,' a play on 'designs,' mirrors the diverse exhibitions. 'MUM,' initially a nod to maternal influence, evolves into the silent force shaping the museum's essence.

Enter OMA—the grandmother of architectural innovation. This powerhouse, led by Reinier de Graaf, joins forces to restore the post-war British architecture gem. The OMA touch, radical engineering, and meticulous detailing culminate in a grand design. OMA, like a wise grandmother, imparts architectural wisdom through the ages.

The slang 'Het' adds a layer—heterosexuality. In this architectural narrative, it mirrors the diverse attractions of the museum, attracting people of all orientations. 'Deign,' an Old English term, speaks to OMA's condescension to elevate architectural standards—a nod to dignity.

'MUM' takes us to familial roots, echoing 'Mum's the word.' Silence, a trait of OMA's designs and the museum's exhibits, speaks louder than words. 'Oma,' a German term for grandmother, symbolizes architectural lineage. 'Grandmothers footsteps' lead us through memory lanes, connecting past and present.

In this journey of architectural alchemy, the anagram stitches together diverse threads—sexuality, design, memory, and OMA's grandeur. The Design Museum, a linguistic marvel, stands not just as a space for innovation but as a testament to the silent wisdom passed down through the architectural generations.

[andylynes-blog]

Interview with Jeremy Lee by Andy Lynes

To kick off cookbookreview.blog's coverage of this year's @AndreSimonAward I am thrilled to present an interview with culinary legend @JLQuoVadis that contains some exciting news for fans of 'Cooking'

Jeremy Lee is one of the shortlisted authors in the food category of this year’s Andre Simon Awards for his marvellous debut Cooking. Dundee born Jeremy Lee one of London’s most celebrated chef and heads up the kitchens at Quo Vadis restaurant and club in London’s bustling Soho. He was previously the head chef of Sir Terence Conran’s Blueprint Cafe in Shad Thames and at Euphorium in Islington…

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Barton Court, Kintbury, West Berkshire, United Kingdom,

Lord Snowdon Photography,

The design world lost a great this weekend with the passing of Habitat and Design Museum founder Sir Terence Conran at the age of 88.

Sir Terence Conran trained as an architect and designer and launched his furniture retailer Habitat in the 1960s, which introduced flat-pack furniture to the UK and exported British design across the globe.

‘No one has done more to create modern Britain than Terence Conran. He spent his whole career looking for ways to make life better for everyone.’

Deyan Dujkic  (Design Museum’s Former Director)

Sir Terence Orby Conran (4 October 1931 – 12 September 2020) 

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Sir Terence Orby Conran (4 October 1931 – 12 September 2020)

Sir Terence, who founded both furniture retailer Habitat and the Design Museum, promoted British design, culture and the arts around the world through his wide-ranging body of work.

In Britain, he helped break down class boundaries by making quality designs more widely available across the population.

Sir Terence studied textile design at London’s Central School of Art before beginning his career making and selling furniture, including innovative flat-pack creations.

He went on to open restaurants across London before launching the first Habitat furniture store in 1964 on Fulham Road in Chelsea, which was at the heart of the “Swinging Sixties” phenomenon in the British capital.

Its staff were attired in uniforms by Mary Quant and had their hair styled by Vidal Sassoon. Many more furniture and lifestyle stores would follow in the years to come.

Sir Terence, who was knighted in 1983, personally influenced other household-name brands like Heal’s and Mothercare. He also set up the Conran Roche architecture practice in 1980. 

Sir Terence Conran and His Iconic Cone Chair by Ray Williams, 1950s,

Glove chair, manufactured by Conran UK, Moulded Fibreglass with Leather,  Dimensions (mm): 910w x 800d x 950h,

Cabinet by Sir Terence Conran, c. 1953, Painted angle sectioned steel, African walnut, with glass doors, 48 x 48 1/2 x 15 1/4 in (121.9 x 123.2 x 38.7 cm),

Sir Terence Conran-designed furnishing fabrics, c1949-50, manufactured by David Whitehead Ltd,

“C20” armchair by Sir Terence Conran & Conran Design Group, 1960, Ebonised tubular steel frame, steam-bent beech seatback and a moulded teak plywood seat, Approximate dimensions: D – 50cm W – 53cm H – 73cm H to seat – 46cm,

1960'S Sir Terence Conran MacLamp N°8 Originally retailed by Habitat,  Cherry/Burgundy (dark red) enamel shade industrial vintage look. H: 50cm (19.69 in).

“Sir Terence Conran has filled our lives for generations with ideas, innovation and brilliant design” -  Lord Mandelson (chairman of the board of trustees at the Design Museum)

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’One of the gardens.’ .. Inside the Country Estate of Britain’s Doyen of Design ..  Photograph by Catherine Hyland ..

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Sir Terence Conran’s house book

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Sir Terence Conran's country house shot by Lord Snowdon

The Conrans' country house, Barton Court, was built in 1772 for Admiral Lord Dundas: a typical, red-brick, early Georgian house of five bays with a projecting central open-pedimented entrance front, enhanced by round-headed windows in the upper storeys. Barton Court is neither a stately home, demanding ceaseless expenditure for its upkeep, nor, on the other hand, a country cottage too small for the lively Conran circle.

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Sir Terence Conran's country house 

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The House Book by Sir Terence Conran, Chairman of Habitat Mothercare PLC.

[designaday]

Good design starts from the premise that living is more than just a matter of existing, and that everyday things which are both effective and attractive can raise the quality of life.

Sir Terence Conran