Conran - A design for life

Sir Terence Conran, interiors entrepreneur extraordinaire, is one of the icons of British design. Lynda Clark meets up with him to discover his style philosophy after 50 years in the business

Fifty years as a cultural icon qualifies Sir Terence Conran as a genuine phenomenon. The first man to introduce flat-pack furniture to Britain, he also launched the Habitat chain - a standard-bearer of interior design. Over the years, he has written numerous books, opened various restaurants and always advised, guided and encouraged British design.

Always a high-flyer, Conran's feet are still firmly on the ground. Whether it's a palatial pad or a tatty terrace, this auteur of British design still understands just what makes an interior work. He remembers what it was like to start out on the property ladder and advises: "When you are furnishing your new home, make sure you get the shell and services right before you consider the furniture or decoration. People often try to do everything at once. Live with your home, understand it and gradually colour it and light it, and then furnish it, as you will find out exactly what works best. Choose furnishings which you love so that it reflects your personality and makes you happy."

While expensive furnishings don't tend to top the list of the first time buyer budget, Conran believes there will always be a home for good design: "Creativity and innovation are the defining characteristics of a good designer, whose role is to create inspired solutions to the problems of contemporary life. Designers must have their finger on the pulse of modern society; good design is enduring and moves with the latest trends but must never be held hostage by fashion or novelty. Think of a classic club chair, a pair of good shoes or an old pair of Levis. Today, more than ever, designers need to draw on their creative resources and be passionate about their products and believe in them; consumers should invest their money wisely in well made products that are built to last."

Conran has bought and sold several properties over the years, and has learned many lessons along the way. His key piece of advice is: "Imagine the place without anything in it so you can see the space available and the potential it has."

Terence Orby Conran was born in Esher, Surrey in 1931. His father was a successful businessman but his mother was fascinated by design and actively encouraged her son to use his creative talents. She even let him build a workshop in the garden with a wood-fired kiln. It was at boarding school that Conran started to flex his entrepreneurial muscles, selling pottery he'd made to his teachers.

Conran joined the Central School of Art and Design to study textiles and at an end of term exhibition was offered a job by leading architect Dennis Lennon. It was the 50s and the Festival of Britain was the cultural highlight. Lennon was heavily involved in the Festival and Conran worked alongside: "It was very hard work but great fun," he reflects. Fifty years on he designed the Skylon restaurant at the Festival Hall.

Down on his luck after the close of the festival, Conran and a friend set up a café to make a few quid. "We decided that we didn't need a chef. We made a huge cauldron of wonderful-tasting stock which we heated with a Bunsen burner and had different ingredients that could be added to make different types of soup. Actually it was the waitresses that really did the cooking!"

Back on track, Conran taught himself to weld metal and began to make furniture from his home. During a visit to Denmark he was impressed with the flat pack furniture being produced, and felt it was the furniture of the future. Conran launched a range in England, which became very successful and proved to be the spark that would ignite Habitat. When asked his secret to designing for the mass market he quickly points out that there is none. "I have always believed that if people are offered something well made, and designed with decent quality at a good price, they will buy it. These principals have been at the heart of my design philosophy for as long as I can remember. What I have done all my life is to promote affordable, useful products."

Now that green issues are at the forefront of people's minds, I wonder if he feels designers are showing enough concern for the environment. The issue is close to Conran's heart and he has just written an extension to his House Book series - The Eco Housebook - full of practical advice for green, sustainable living. His latest venture, Boundary, a restaurant and hotel in Shoreditch, is also testament to his eco mindset. "We wanted to create an environmentally friendly building in all elements of the project, from the materials to the use of local suppliers as well as insulating a 120-year-old building in an eco way. Working with the Environment Agency we drilled two 120 metre bore holes below the floor in the restaurant - one to collect water and energy from the London aquifer and the other to return the same untainted resource after it has been used to operate the air-conditioning, refrigeration systems and various other equipment." He adds, "It is important to consider these things for all our futures. Designers have a huge responsibility because the throwaway culture we live in cannot last forever and the key to this is sustainability."

After 50 years, it is obvious that Conran is as motivated and passionate about his work as ever. In his spare time he loves his vegetable garden but design is his first love. "On one level, design is all about technology but I try to design things which make life easier for everyone. People don't want to read a 250 page manual before they can use it so I keep things simple. I don't like hearing people talk about 'lifestyle' in reference to design. In my opinion it should be 'a style for life' - it's a much easier way to live."