Robin Day Hilleplan Desk, 1952

Robin Day Hilleplan writing desk by Robin Day for Hille, 1952.

The Unit J, Hilleplan desk is a modern interpretation of the classical drop-front desk from the 18th Century. In the early 19th Century the Shakers produced a tall, plain version known as the ‘cupboard desk’.

The restrained modernist elevation by Robin Day marries with the Hilleplan family through dimensions and detailing, though the cabinet-making is more complex with the combination of drawers and desk unit. The marriage works well and despite the simple design, the use of contrasting elm and walnut adds a dynamic and affluent feel. The recessed handles provide a flat and minimal appearance to the desk, which is echoed through the functionalist layout within. The writing desk was the more expensive and is thus a rarer model from the Hilleplan family.

The Hilleplan range was designed in 1952 and based around an 18inch module. It was Robin Day’s first storage system that reached production following his award-winning design for MOMA.

The Hilleplan range of units were designed to offer users flexibility and to work singularly, or as part of a system. It was quite different from anything else in the market at the time.

Robin Day went to design several other storage systems, such as Interplan, that anticipated the demand for flexible needs in both domestic and commercial interiors.