Robert Hening was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, England on 23 July 1906 and was articled to the Liverpool architect Edmund Ware (1852-1934). He also briefly attended University College, London. During the 1930s he was the Estate Architect for the Dartington Estate in Dartington, near Totnes, Devon for whom between 1934 and 1938 assisted William Lescaze (1896-1969) in the design, of various buildings including 3 and 4 Warren Lane (1934); Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Boarding Houses, Dartington School (1935); 20 Warren Lane (1935); 5, 6 and 7 Warren Lane (1935); and 8 and 9 Warren Lane.
In 1937 Hening formed a partnership with Anthony Chitty (1907-1976), who had previously been a member of Tecton. During the late 1930s they designed a number of municipal airports commissioned by Whitney Straight, including at Exeter and Ipswich.
During World War Two Hening served in the Royal Engineers. Following the war Hening and Chitty resumed their practice. They designed several schools, 12 blocks of six-storey flats in Cromer Street, St. Pancras, London (1946-50); and the seven- and ten-storey Dombey flats in Holborn, London (1947). Hening also designed further work at Dartington including the Higher Close student accommodation and the Music School for the College of Arts. In addition to his work as can architect, Hening also designed furniture in collaboration with Hein Heckroth (1901-1970), including the Lamda chair, manufactured by Dartington Hall (1935). Hening died in London 24 July 1997