The so-called “Grunt Group” aka Christopher Cross, Jeremy Dixon, Michael Gold and Edward Jones reflect on 50 years of practice, looking back to when they celebrated their first competition success.

Rules Restaurant in 1974. Clockwise from top: Chris Cross, Jeremy Dixon, Mike Gold, Edward Jones, Adrian Sansom, Yvonne Farrell (with her back to the camera), unknown, and Rosie Haward (wife of Birkin Haward). 

So what’s going on in the photo above?
Edward Jones It was taken in 1974 at Rules Restaurant. The occasion was a celebratory lunch following the winning entry of Jeremy Dixon’s design for the Northampton County Offices competition. At the table are (amongst others) Jeremy Dixon, Christopher Cross, Michael Gold and Edward Jones who collaborated with Jeremy on the project. With her back to the camera is Yvonne Farrell, later of Grafton Architects. Note the smoking giving it period character!

Jeremy Dixon We had all been brought to Milton Keynes by Derek Walker as somewhat of a likely bunch. Northampton was conveniently the next stop up on the motorway and so we all entered a competition for a project there, which Jeremy won. However, we’d agreed that if one of us won, we’d work on it together, which we did – it became a joint effort. This photo was the moment we won Northampton.

And what’s going on in the photo below?
This was taken last week – 50 years later – at the same place. It’s Jeremy Dixon, Christopher Cross, Michael Gold and Edward Jones – all born in 1939; all from the AA; all alive and kicking – who later became known as the Grunt Group. The title was bestowed on us by Peter Cook, some think affectionately, whereas others think out of irritation for getting under Archigram’s skin!

Rules Restaurant in 2024. Clockwise from bottom left: Chris Cross, Jeremy Dixon, Mike Gold, Edward Jones.

What was the topic of conversation in 1974?
Jeremy Dixon As we had won the Northampton Pyramid competition, we were wondering, how on earth do we become a credible office? What on earth are we going to do?

Edward Jones The Northampton win allowed us to leave working at Milton Keynes (MKDC) and set up our own office. This we did in the Earlham Street warehouse in Covent Garden with the assistance of Alvin Boyarski who was then renting most of it for the AA from the landlady Christina Smith who owned much of this part of Covent Garden at the time and always a patron of Arts. Regrettably Northampton was cancelled as a result of a change of government. But this was the event which propelled us into private practice, no turning back!

What was the topic of conversation in last week?
Jeremy Dixon Ah, it was four people confronting the ends of their lives, working out who is still alive and what funerals we are going to! It was a very affectionate affair.

Edward Jones Now all in our mid eighties, there was a general appreciation that we are still alive and kicking! Speaking personally, I find retirement mildly problematic – work is life for the artist/ architect and so I continue to produce designs, albeit not now with a fully operational office. Our conversation inevitably touched on colleagues who have recently departed.