BBC News reports: "Designer Sir Terence Conran has donated £7.5m towards a project to develop London's Design Museum... The museum is relocating from its current site at Shad Thames to the former Commonwealth Institute building to make more space." Plus, the US Postal Service issues its "Pioneers of Industrial Design" stamps, Christie's announces auction events for the Elizabeth Taylor Collection, Toni Morrison's house goes on the market and Architectural Record lists the top 250 firms. More news and links below.
DESIGN NEWS OF THE DAY
• Sir Terence Conran Donates £7.5m to Design Museum | BBC News
• "Pioneers of Industrial Design" Stamps Now Available | Apartment Therapy
• Christie's to Host Auction Events for Elizabeth Taylor Collection | Editor At Large
• Toni Morrison's Grand, Gabled Princeton Home Hits the Market | Curbed
• Top 250 Firms: Titans Maintain Lead While Industry Suffers | Architectural Record
Photo: Conran and Company
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Bravo Sir Terence!!
Someone should really write an article contrasting his generosity with that of the world's wealthiest foundation, Stichting INGKA.
Its stated purpose is "To promote and support innovation in the field of architectural and interior design", but so far, it doesn't seem to have done much. Several years ago, it supposedly granted $2.5 Million to a Swedish design university. Since it doesn't issue reports, we don't really know what else it may have done, although it claimed that in 2010 it would spend 45 Million Euros.
To put this in context, the Gates Foundation, worth $33 B, donated $1.5 B in 2010, and is completely transparent about its holdings and activities.
Oh, and the IKEA foundation has been around since 1982, so you would think that by now, they would have actually accomplished something...