Modern Living: Those Designing Europeans

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Europe's designers are also among the most ardent believers in the necessity of conserving basic materials, both natural and manmade. Says Britain's Martin Roberts, chief industrial designer for the successful chain of Habitat stores, which offer tasteful, basic home furnishings: "With the world as it is now, we have to restrain ourselves. We have to design to price and to process. People are going to want things that do the job well and last and look good all at the same time." In a way, it would all sound a bit familiar to the late Mies van der Rohe. Less, with the increasing awareness of good design, will become more.