028 REPORTER


project in Japan, yet also worked on a very fun bar and restaurant for a very young client in Iceland. So completely different to one another. But I think that’s what Conran was all about. And that kind of gave me the bug for interiors.’ The approach of Sir Terence Conran – Conran and Partner’s late founder – to design was using all of his acquired skills and interests: he studied textiles as a student, he set up restaurants, he co-founded wood furniture maker Benchmark, set up the Design Museum, and designed shops, among his many achievements. He was arguably never qualified, but he was driven by passion and that, in turn, brought a new perspective to a project. When setting up one of the UK’s most prominent architecture practices he did so with a belief that ‘design improves the quality of people’s lives’. ‘[This is] absolutely still the case and,


you know, that’s why we’re here doing it,’ says Norden. ‘With Terence, because he’s wasn’t an architect, or an interior designer, his view on things was very particular. It’s very people- centric, which I think is something that’s really stuck with us [as a practice]. And he was never someone who imposed a certain stylistic direction on the practice.’ Today, the practice highlights its approach of designing for people, with Norden pointing out a ‘sensibility’ that links its work together rather than a style, an ethos derived from its founder. ‘But it’s also,’ she adds, ‘I think, an understanding of the commercial aspects of what we do because particularly in hospitality, of course, the space that we’re designing is


there to sell and to also create money for the people that are investing in it. ‘And I think we’re keenly aware of that, particularly in the hospitality industry – it must be able to be


Above The entrance lobby to the Taj The Trees hotel in Mumbai, designed by Conran and Partners in collaboration with Studio Vikhroli


Right Hotel Maximilian, a boutique hotel in Prague


Below right Villa Lucca is a private residence located in Hong Kong


monetised. So I think we’re also quite practical with that kind of thing and that, you know, you can design spaces that are beautiful, but that it also works really well.’


HAROLD DE PUYMORIN


MATTHIAS ASCHAUER


VIKAS MUNIPALLE


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