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Apparently Anshen + Allen are just around the corner and Foreign Office Architects, Grimshaw and Zaha Hadid are down the road. Even the daddy of modern urban living, Richard Rogers, has a presence here. 鈥淗is son lives just around the corner, in a sort of modern insertion,鈥� says Matthew. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit out of proportion. I don鈥檛 know if he designed it 鈥︹��

A few years ago Hoxton was the preserve of derelict buildings and people clutching cans of special brew. In fact, it was so dodgy that the RMJM crew avoided the pub we are sitting in, despite the fact it was smack bang opposite their office. 鈥淚t used to be a typical working man鈥檚 pub with frosted glass and greyhound racing on the telly,鈥� says Matthew. 鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 have dared go in.鈥�

How things have changed. Now it is an 眉bertrendy gastro pub filled with architects wearing black. All of them.

鈥淲e鈥檝e all been to a funeral today,鈥� jokes Matthew. What is it with architects and black? 鈥淵ou can answer this one Charles as you have an all black wardrobe,鈥� says Matthew. 鈥淚 do have a few bright colours,鈥� counters Charles.

鈥淚 think there is a mystique to black,鈥� says Matthew, by way of explanation. 鈥淚n the evening we like to blend in with the general ambience of London,鈥� he adds, more cryptically.

They all have watches with black faces too 鈥� apart from Charles, who has three mobile phones instead.

Debbie鈥檚 watch is a great example of style over function. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 work out how to change the time, so its right for only six months of the year,鈥� she says.

Of course, function has a place too 鈥� after all, these are architects. Matthew uses his Lotus as an example, which he promised himself he would get if the firm won a particular job. 鈥淭hey are so pure and functional,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no power steering or anti-lock braking system. It鈥檚 a pure experience 鈥� and lovely to drive.鈥�

Charles has picked an even more unusual vehicle 鈥� he has switched from a handbuilt Harley Davidson chopper to a farm vehicle. 鈥淚 was in love with bikes until I discovered Land Rovers,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey are so honest. They鈥檙e nothing to do with style 鈥� it鈥檚 all about function.鈥�

We recall that this conversation about cars was a tangent off a discussion about travelling around the world. Charles, however, says this is no longer necessary. 鈥淎 job with RMJM is like a trip round the world in a Land Rover,鈥� he says. Perhaps he meant to say Lotus.