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Make things with your hands Dec 23rd 2011, 15:52 by G.D. | LONDON A DESIGNER, restaurateur and retailer, Sir Terence Conran has significantly influenced the way we live and eat in Britain over the past five decades. Beginning in 1964, his Habitat chain of stores helped to introduce simple, well-designed housewares at affordable prices. Decades later, his restaurants did much to introduce the country to fine and stylish cuisine. Sir Terence remains busy: having turned 80 in October, he recently launched a collection of housewares for MarksSpencer. A new retrospective of his work is also now on at Londons Design Museum. That this museum even exists is in part due to Sir Terences work in establishing its forerunner, called the Boilerhouse, in the basement of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1982. The projects success led to the opening of the Design Museum in 1989 at its current spot in Shad Thames. Over the past 30 years the Conran Foundation has supported the museum to the tune of ?50m. Why did you feel strongly about creating a design museum in London? Id always been fascinated by Milans Triennale in my early years as a designer. I saw how stimulating and influential it was for both students and manufacturers to see the design of the best contemporary products in the world. I started to dream about how something similar could happen in the UKso when I made serious money through the flotation of Habitat I set up the Conran Foundation with the idea of creating a permanent home in the UK for the display of modern design. | 
