Robin & Lucienne Day - Pioneers of Contemporary Design

Currently exhibiting at the Barbican Gallery, London, is the work of Robin and Lucienne Day, designers of the post-war period. Working in a wide range of media, they pioneered the introduction of ‘Contemporary design’ during the 1950s and 1960s. Although working independently, the Days shared a commitment to designing low-cost, mass-produced, good-quality furniture and fabric.

A key moment in both their careers was the Festival of Britain in 1951. Robin was invited to contribute two room sets to the Homes and Gardens pavilion, for which Lucienne provided a furnishing fabric called Calyx. Featuring an exceptionally large and bold repeat pattern of abstracted flowers, the fabric was nothing like the utility fabrics or chintzy florals that had been dominant in Britain till then.

Herb Antony Fabric. 1956

Along with Robin’s sleek, simple furniture, Calyx launched a new era in British design, injecting new life and excitement into the world of domestic furnishings and interior design. Although Lucienne Day.is best known for her printed furnishing fabrics for Heal’s, the exhibition also highlights her achievements in dress fabrics, wallpapers, carpets, ceramics and table linen.

Robin Day’s partnership with furniture manufacturer Hille was long and productive, culminating in his groundbreaking polypropylene chairs of the 1960s and 1970s. Targeting his designs at architects, Robin Day created stylish, practical, economical furniture, which is still widely used in schools, offices, homes, stations, concert halls and sports stadiums throughout the world.

Polypropylene Chairs

The early work of the Days is as fashionable today as it was then. The designs of Robin Day, both old and new, are being produced by Habitat and SCP. An exhibition in the Foyer Gallery will include a selection of recent works by Robin and Lucienne Day produced in collaboration with Habitat, SCP and Twentytwentyone. Admission is free

Robin and Lucienne Day - 
Pioneers of Contemporary Design
8^th February – 16^th April 2001

Admission:  £5.00

Location:    Barbican Gallery
                   London EC2

Open:         Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri, Sat 10am-6pm
                   Weds 10am-8pm
                   Sun 12pm-6pm

Web:          www.barbican.org.uk