Felt tip drawing depicting a design for a dining room by Conran Associates, 1 of 6 designer's realizations of rooms. Great Britain, 1976.

Line drawing of an arrangement for a dining room of 'pack flat' furniture, with a table and three folding chairs on a rug. A shelf unit holding books, a stereo, lamp, bottles and plant.

Given by Conran Associates

One of 6 designer's realizations of rooms showing in situ inexpensive, easily transportable furniture, covering the basic requirements in setting up a home. Executed for Hema shops, Holland, 1976.

By the middle of the 1970s, with Habitat stores in many high streets, it was possible to identify a 'Habitat' style, the leading feature of which was the light, bright, interior furnished with pieces made from natural or colour-stained wood, the possibly austere effect being softened and personalised with consumer goods and decorative objects, also obtainable at Habitat. Much Habitat furniture was sold 'packed flat' for assembly at home, so that people could 'go into a shop on a Saturday afternoon, pick up a chair in a box, take it away, put it together, and watch Match of the Day in it the same night'. The folding chairs in the room, one of Habitat's cheapest and most popular designs, are based on the 'Trieste' chair, designed by Aldo Jacober and Pierangela D'Aniello in 1966 and sold in Liberty's in 1970 for the high price of £18-15s.

[Michael Snodin, 'British Design at Home', p.159]

E.1544-1976