Design Focus | RFH Terrace Collection

In the summer of 1951, just six years after the end of the Second World War, London hosted the Festival of Britain, a national exhibition and fair to mark the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851. 

The festival focused entirely on Britain and its achievements, showcasing the best of British art, architecture, design, science, technology and industry. Featuring events across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the main site was situated on London’s Southbank and welcomed 8.5 million attendees.  

The festival aimed to boost national morale in the aftermath of World War II and to become a beacon of hope and optimism in a country still in the grasp of austerity and rationing. Importantly, it was also the catalyst for a new design aesthetic, launching the careers of several acclaimed British designers, including Robin Day.   

Various temporary buildings were constructed in the heart of London for the event, including Skylon, the Dome of Discovery and Telekinema and the concert venue, Royal Festival Hall, which still stands today. The modernist building was designed by Robert Matthew and Leslie Martin, with interiors by Peter Moro and Robin Day commissioned to design the seating for the auditorium, foyer, restaurant and terrace.  

In 2024, &Tradition reissued a series of important Robin Day designs from 1951, including the Royal Festival Hall collection. Unlike the well-known RFH Lounge Chair and Armchair, the original models of the RFH Terrace Chair and Table were never put into production and were made in limited numbers for use only at the exhibition. One single, well-preserved chair was found in the venue’s archive and, alongside archival photography, enabled the Danish manufacturer, in collaboration with the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation, to revive these elusive designs in exacting detail.  

The outdoor collection features a simple, streamlined structure, their lithe forms and diminutive proportions indicative of the new modernist aesthetic of the time. They embodied Robin Day’s economic approach to material and construction, both a response to the austerity of war and an unwavering and pioneering commitment to conserving finite natural resources. 

The RFH Terrace Chair’s distinct form is constructed in untreated, FCS-certified solid teak with a powder-coated steel frame. The RFH Terrace Table, defined by its industrial aesthetic, features a compact laminate top and a durable black powder-coated steel frame. Each component of the Terrace collection can be replaced, further extending the longevity of the design. A selection of seat pads or cushions are available to complete the range. 

The RFH Terrace Collection will be on display at our River Street showroom courtyard from mid-March.