Selection Committee 2008
Sir Terence Conran, Chairman of Conran Holdings
Terence Conran is one of the world´s best known designers, restaurateurs and retailers. Born in 1931, he founded the Habitat chain of home furnishings stores that revolutionised the UK High Street in the 1960s and 1970s by bringing intelligent, modern design within reach of the general population.
In the 1980s Habitat was expanded and following a series of acquisitions evolved into Storehouse plc, the Chairmanship from which Terence retired in 1990.
In the 1990s, Terence built another group of companies involved in design, retailing, restaurants and hotels. Conran Holdings, of which Terence is Chairman, started its life in 1990 managed out of an apartment at Butlers Wharf owning one restaurant, one shop and a design studio.
It has grown into a business today which owns restaurants and shops in London, Paris, New York, Copenhagen and across Japan, as well as Conran & Partners, a thriving architecture and design practice who are currently working on major projects worldwide. Following the sale of a 49% stake in the restaurant business in 2006, Conran restaurants now operate under the name D&D London.
Terence has written over 30 informative books that broadly reflect his design philosophy, selling over 20 million copies of his publications worldwide. They include The Essential House Book, Terence Conran on Design, The Ultimate House Book, Easy Living and Eat London. Terence has always been a great supporter of education in design and founded the Design Museum in London and is currently the Provost of the Royal College of Art.
Later this year he will open the Boundary in Shoreditch - a restaurant, rooftop bar & grill, café, bakery and foodstore with 17 individually designed bedrooms.
Website: www.conran.com