It certainly didn’t disappoint. With its sculptural aesthetic offering a stunning contrast to the functionality of Firminy and the modularity of the extraordinary convent at La Tourette, it was a day that that will linger long in the memory for all of us.

And that, primarily, is why we were there.

Architecture is experiential. There really is nothing better as an architect than looking at brilliant and inspirational buildings. Not looking at pictures or plans but reacting to them up close and personal, experiencing them from every perspective.

Those long hours hunched over a desk making endless drawings are a critical aspect of our profession but it is also important to keep reminding ourselves why we are all architects and that is why the study tour is such a fundamental part of our business.

As the practice continues to expand internationally, so these tours are a great opportunity to embed and reinforce our shared design values and this year we had every region represented with young architects – and some not so young – from studios as far afield as Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Madrid and Warsaw and a whole smorgasbord of nationalities from Brazilian to Filipino, Danish to Venezuelan.

They are also an opportunity to bring people together from across the practice and form professional and personal relationships that can last a lifetime. Inter-studio collaboration is critical as our clients become increasingly global and the ability to pick up the phone to a colleague on the other side of the world becomes far easier if you have shared a four hour coach journey through the Loire Valley.

Next year Broadway Malyan is 60 years old and we are already looking for a fitting destination for such an important anniversary – there is a long list of exciting possibilities but there are few places quite like Ronchamp.