In commercial terms, the Maison Tropicale was a failure - it was too expensive and complicated to manufacture. But really, it’s a work of art. It’s an architectural milestone, and a gorgeous piece of retro design that’s somehow classically French. I can just imagine Tintin parking a 2CV outside it, or a sweaty Jean-Paul Belmondo pouring Catherine Deneuve a pastis on the verandah while cursing the tropical heat. It might look a little out of place in chilly London, but for design fans, it’s well worth a visit.