Alain de botton arrives in the lobby of the RIBA with the endearing look of a polite schoolboy. Though in his late 30s, the writer is youthfully studious in his glasses, V-neck navy blue jumper and dark trousers. His latest book, The Architecture of Happiness, in which he reflects on the idea of beauty in buildings, was due to be published yesterday. He hopes the book will persuade people to become more comfortable articulating their feelings about architecture. Building got hold of an advance copy and passed it to architect Robert Adam. Adam is an advocate of the traditional style that de Botton - a card-carrying modernist - regularly criticises.
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