Sir Terence Conran

Terence’s favourite things

• Stephane Grapelli and the Jazz Club de France – Evocative of good times without sounding clichéd or over familiar.
• Philippe Starck – Superbly innovative and imaginative designer with a great sense of humour.
• Issey Miyake’s clothes – Playful designs – the ultimate wearable art.
• Concorde – I don’t know anyone who dislikes this twentieth century icon.
• Beck’s tube map – Taken for granted but used by millions of people.
• Millennium Eye – What better way to see the coolest city in the world?
• Paperclip – An ingenious design that’s often overlooked.
• The new Eurostar terminal – An impressive gateway to London for train passengers from Europe.
• The Bauhaus – It’s always been cool, and always will be.
• Elizabeth David – She changed the way the British eat forever.
• Tom Heatherwick’s Bridge at Paddington
• Michelin building – A stunning piece of quirky architecture inspired by the charming Monsieur Bibendum, and the first reinforced concrete structure in the UK.
• Japanese lacquerware – simple, beautiful design.
• Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram building in Manhattan – New York’s greatest skyscraper.
• Porsche 911 – Fantastic to look at and even better to drive.
• The Citroën DS – Full of idiosyncrasies and full of character.
• Vespa scooters – I had one 40 years ago: they were cool then and they’re cool now.