twentytwentyone

twentytwentyone The very best in design-led furniture, lighting and accessories - combining twentieth-century classi Furniture, lighting and accessories store

“A good design should fulfil its purpose well, be soundly constructed and should express in its design this purpose and ...
25/05/2026

“A good design should fulfil its purpose well, be soundly constructed and should express in its design this purpose and construction.”
— Robin Day

Today, we celebrate the birth of one of Britain’s most influential designers, Robin Day OBE (1915–2010).

A key figure in post-war furniture design, Robin Day transformed modern interiors through innovative materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and a commitment to creating high-quality, affordable furniture for everyday life.

Robin and his partner, pioneering textile designer Lucienne Day, rose to prominence during the 1951 Festival of Britain, where their work was exhibited side by side in the Homes and Gardens Pavilion. Robin also designed the furniture for the Royal Festival Hall, a landmark moment in British design history.

Sustainability was central to Day’s philosophy long before it became part of mainstream conversation. Shaped by the austerity of the war years, his thoughtful use of materials and efficient construction methods reflected a deep responsibility to conserve natural resources through durable, long-lasting furniture.

In contrast to the heavy, traditional furniture of the past, Day’s designs were refined, lightweight, and streamlined, as exemplified by the iconic Reclining Chair (1952).

Over the past thirty years, we have been fortunate to collaborate with Robin on several projects, from the 1996 Childsply exhibition to the reissue of celebrated designs including the Reclining Chair, Slatted Bench, and Avian collection.

We continue to work closely with the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation and were proud to have launched two exclusive designs to celebrate 25 years of twentytwentyone >https://ow.ly/qczo50Z2aEC

“Good design is the sum of a designer’s experience. It results from the ability to analyse and solve problems through or...
24/05/2026

“Good design is the sum of a designer’s experience. It results from the ability to analyse and solve problems through organised thinking and imagination.”

- Florence Knoll

Today, we celebrate the birth of Florence Knoll Bassett (1917–2019), architect, furniture designer, and co-founder of Knoll, whose pioneering vision transformed modern interior design and workplace planning.

Through the creation of the Knoll Planning Unit, Florence Knoll revolutionised office interiors, introducing modern principles of efficiency, spatial clarity, and total design. She also championed some of the most influential architects and designers of the 20th century.

A protégé of Eliel Saarinen, Knoll studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and worked with Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe before co-founding Knoll Associates with her husband, Hans Knoll, in 1946. Together, they collaborated with designers including Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, and Mies van der Rohe, helping define the language of post-war modern interiors in America.

Among her most enduring works are the Florence Knoll Lounge Collection, celebrated for its clean architectural lines and refined proportions, and the Florence Knoll Executive Desk Series, which brought clarity and sophistication to modern workplace design. Both remain icons of mid-century modernism and continue to influence contemporary interiors today.

Florence Knoll’s influence on architecture, furniture, and interior design remains immeasurable >https://ow.ly/sPGt50Z2aI9

Gubi x Bonacina 1889Originally designed by architect Tito Agnoli in 1964, the P3 Lounge Chair and P3S Chaise Longue are ...
19/05/2026

Gubi x Bonacina 1889

Originally designed by architect Tito Agnoli in 1964, the P3 Lounge Chair and P3S Chaise Longue are reimagined for outdoor living through a collaboration between GUBI and Bonacina 1889, Italy’s renowned rattan specialist.

Linear yet organic in expression, the P3 Lounge Chair and P3S Chaise Longue stand among the finest examples of 20th-century rattan design. More than 60 years after their debut, the sculptural silhouettes return with a renewed sense of purpose, moving effortlessly from interior spaces to the outdoors.

Defined by modernist clarity and tactile warmth, the collection balances engineering with craft. Each piece is built on a galvanised steel frame and handwoven using a durable synthetic fibre that mirrors the texture and richness of natural rattan while offering resistance to sunlight and moisture >https://ow.ly/6fJR50YYTIb

Join us in-store this Wednesday as we welcome the legendary Benny Hammer Larsen, Carl Hansen & Søn’s renowned master wea...
11/05/2026

Join us in-store this Wednesday as we welcome the legendary Benny Hammer Larsen, Carl Hansen & Søn’s renowned master weaver, for a live demonstration of the intricate and highly skilled handweaving process behind the iconic CH24 Wishbone Chair.

Discover the traditional paper cord weaving techniques and exceptional craftsmanship that define every Carl Hansen & Søn CH24 chair

Carl Hansen & Søn, in collaboration with Ette Colour, have taken over our Upper Street window with Soft Focus, celebrating the iconic CH24 Wishbone Chair in a range of contemporary colours.

Designed in 1949, the first collaboration between Hans J. Wegner and Carl Hansen & Søn, the CH24 has become one of the most coveted and enduring chairs of the twentieth century.

Live in store Wednesday 13th May 2026
2.00pm-4.00pm

twentytwentyone Shop
274-275 Upper Street
London
N1 2UA

Originally designed by Aino Aalto for the terrace of the home she shared with Alvar on Riihitie Road in Helsinki, the Ri...
10/05/2026

Originally designed by Aino Aalto for the terrace of the home she shared with Alvar on Riihitie Road in Helsinki, the Riihitie plant pot reflects a belief that even the smallest details deserve care and consideration.

Though presented as part of Artek’s exhibition at the Paris World Fair in 1937, the design was never put into serial production. n. Today, it has been reintroduced in three sizes, each finished with a high-gloss glaze that highlights its soft, organic form, reintroducing a quietly thoughtful design to everyday settings >https://ow.ly/MpHI50YV4El

Muller Van Severen’s Alu collection blends playful minimalism with effortless functionality. Lightweight yet durable, ea...
09/05/2026

Muller Van Severen’s Alu collection blends playful minimalism with effortless functionality. Lightweight yet durable, each piece introduces vibrant colour indoors or out.

Designed with outdoor living in mind, the confident colour palette is finished with a UV-protective lacquer to preserve its intensity, while the raw aluminium frames catch and reflect sunlight with a subtle, natural sheen.

The Alu collection is currently on display at our River Street showroom >https://ow.ly/b0VH50YUZ0O

A new adaptation.Originally designed in 1970, the Canvas Chair was one of Børge Mogensen’s final works, an expression of...
07/05/2026

A new adaptation.

Originally designed in 1970, the Canvas Chair was one of Børge Mogensen’s final works, an expression of his belief that furniture should be defined by its construction and its use. Its character remains unchanged: clear, purposeful, and quietly architectural.

Reimagined for outdoor living, the materials have been thoughtfully adapted to withstand the elements while preserving the integrity of the original design. Pared-back and precise, with exposed joinery and an emphasis on natural materials, it offers a balance of durability and refinement.

Finished with a hardwearing performance canvas, this marks Fredericia’s first venture into outdoor living, where timeless design meets everyday function >https://ow.ly/W3c950YV3sg

Originally designed by Robin Day for London’s Royal Festival Hall, the RFH Lounge Chair captures the optimism and forwar...
06/05/2026

Originally designed by Robin Day for London’s Royal Festival Hall, the RFH Lounge Chair captures the optimism and forward-thinking spirit of the 1951 Festival of Britain, celebrating its 75th anniversary this week.

Positioned in the Festival Hall foyer overlooking the Thames, the chair became a defining feature of the space. Today, only a small number of originals remain, with one held in the permanent collection at MoMA in New York.

Compact yet remarkably comfortable, its low-slung form is both sculptural and inviting. Wing-like armrests, created through form-pressed moulding, give the chair its distinctive silhouette, while beech and walnut veneer, paired with a padded seat and back cushion, add warmth and character.

Reissued in 2024 through a collaboration between &Tradition and the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation, the RFH Lounge Chair returns alongside a selection of Robin Day’s 1951 designs, reintroducing a defining moment of British modernism to contemporary interiors >https://ow.ly/mTHg50YUZfU

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Festival of Britain, a defining moment for a nation rebuilding after war. S...
04/05/2026

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Festival of Britain, a defining moment for a nation rebuilding after war. Set along London’s South Bank, it presented a bold and optimistic vision of modern Britain, uniting art, architecture, science and design in a powerful statement of renewal.

At its heart was a new design language. Figures such as Robin and Lucienne Day helped shape post-war British modernism through innovative furniture and textiles that captured the spirit of the time, forward-looking, accessible and distinctly contemporary.

From iconic structures to influential interiors, the festival’s legacy continues to resonate today.

Read more >https://ow.ly/BpCO50YTh2z

"Maap is the realization of a long-held desire to create expansive light sources that diffuse illumination across a broa...
01/05/2026

"Maap is the realization of a long-held desire to create expansive light sources that diffuse illumination across a broad surface. This results in a subtle, immersive glow that surrounds you, spreading softly and evenly."
- Erwan Bouroullec

Introducing Maap, a new lighting concept by Erwan Bouroullec for Flos. Combining a flexible diffuser with a magnetic LED system, each piece is shaped manually during installation, ensuring no two outcomes are alike. Its diffused light creates an even, atmospheric wash across the wall, evoking a soft, cloud-like presence >https://ow.ly/HCPf50YQuj0

Address

274-275 Upper Street
London
N12UA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

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+442072881996

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