It’s the small things that make a house a home, and for one evening, the Design Museum in London became home to a small and intimate celebration of Habitat’s 60th anniversary.
Last week, the special event invited industry experts and design enthusiasts to discover the power of interior design through the “Changing Space: 60 Years of Design with Habitat” installation. Trailing from the outdoor space to the inside atrium, homeware pieces designed by Habitat and several guest designers engulfed the venue’s entrance hall, showcasing its playful design attitude that transformed living spaces over the decades.
Upon arrival, attendees first explored the brand’s colorful evolution documented with displays that exhibited the objects and their role in the home. Starting outdoors at the array of playful seating solutions that provided a sun-soaked meeting spot, visitors were then guided inside to the “Create” zone with a presentation of pottery before entering “Transform”, hosting tangible interactivity with lighting and textile elements. Placed on the outer side of the display, the “Connect” section showcased archival pieces including the 1964-released Poulet Chicken Brick and the Crayonne Store Pot from the early ‘70s.
Following the private viewing, the crowd began to take their seats for a special panel talk. Against the backdrop of the installation, head of Habitat design Andrew Tanner, senior homeware designer Dave Hutcheson, acclaimed craft designer Simone Brewster, and Hypebeast’s design editor Alice Morby commenced the discussion on the “Art of Home.” In a warm introduction, the host and Design Museum director Tim Marlow paid homage to Sir Terence Conran, founder of the British homeware brand as well as the original incarnation of the Design Museum. Conran’s influence is integral to what is recognized as contemporary design today and his story provided the starting point for the hour-long conversation.
“I think it’s exciting as a designer to look at how we live our lives,” began Tanner. “Now, more than ever, everybody has their own take on spaces so we’re dictating less on how we should use spaces but instead, offering more opportunities.” His statement prompted responses about personalization, trends, and style preferences, leading Hutcheson to explain why the in-house team has to consider a diversity of needs and tastes in Habitat’s collections.
As a designer herself, Brewster often looks to the pluralism that exists in the design world that “makes creations interesting and exciting.” For her trio of vibrant rugs, guest designed for Habitat’s 60th anniversary collection, she reflected on the process of delving into the brand’s archives to weave bold palettes from the ‘70s with her own love for bold color arrangements. From the respective collection to her jewelry designs, Brewster lends her success to working from her sanctuary saying, “My house is half home, half studio, which means that the things I create are more authentic. I can be my real creative self.”
Living spaces in London, as well as the utilization of existing space, was also a key topic of discussion. Having lived in nine different rental accommodations, Morby has seen first-hand the need for efficiency in the home. As part of her journey, she expressed the importance of having furniture to move around easily but also the pieces that provide sentimental stories in new spaces. “Now, people are attaching more meaning to the objects they have in their homes,” she explained. “If we create something that people are going to fall in love with, they will take with them wherever they go – ultimately that is designing sustainably.”
As the panel talk wrapped up, the conversation continued to flow amongst guests, sharing their own anecdotes about homes, heirlooms, and curating spaces that make their day-to-day lives more meaningful.
Look back at Habitat’s 60th anniversary event in the gallery above.
To find out more about the installation on show for free at the Design Museum until Aug 11, head to its website now.
