1. xxwww.vanityfair.com V A N I T Y F A I R O N R O U T ES E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6
And finally
I
have always felt that, by definition, aeroplanes are
beautiful objects because their functionality
requires a beautiful solution. Concorde, however,
was the most beautiful of all: the iconic aircraft of
the20thcentury,combiningexquisiteeleganceand
form with invention and excellence. It was an
unparalleled recipe of art, design, science,
engineering and bold, imaginative thinking.
It always had some magic ingredient that made it
truly special—instantly
recognizable, immediately eye-catching—and so
it became one of the great design icons of the
modern age. Concorde was, and is, a head-
turner—so far ahead of its time thatwhen it made
its first speed-defying commercial flight across
the Atlantic in 1976, it gave us all an irresistible
glimpseintothefuture,capturingourimagination
and making us dream.
Concorde soon became a worldwide symbol
of luxury, glamour, power and monumental
achievement, because it was something that had
never been seen before. Itwas also one of the few
designs to attract admiration from all age groups
the world over. To watch Concorde fly was to
witness that rare, dynamic combination of graceful elegance with
the raw energy and power associatedwith supersonic flight.
I was thrilled that Conran and Partners became part of its history
whenwewereaskedtodesigntheinteriorsforConcordein2001.The
briefwas to make the interior as desirable as the exterior. No pressure
there, then… I thought our designers did a terrific job, but no sooner
had ourwork been agreed than the aircraftwas taken out of service.
Morerecently,mysonSebastianhascreatedabeautifulsculpture
called Icon out of the nose cone of a Concorde. It is the perfect
tribute,andIamdelightedwehavefoundaplinth
big enough for the five-tonne stainless-steelwork.
It will sit outside the New Design Museum in
London’s Holland Park.
Do not think I exaggerate when I say that it is
the single most important piece of design in my
lifetime. I am sad to say that I do not thinkwewill
see anything quite so elegant, beautiful and
optimistic again. Perhaps that is the challenge for
our nation’s designers, engineers, innovators and
even artists. Can you work together to create
something so beautiful, powerful and iconic as
Concorde that pushes the boundaries of our
imagination? Can you make us dream again?
Can you show us the future? �
Concorde was an inspired collaboration, blending art, science and engineering.
Sir Terence Conran celebrates the single most important design of his lifetime
Dream machine
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T O T H E P O I N T
Icon (2013) by
Sebastian Conran—
immortalizing
Concorde’s
distinguished nose