News items filed under the ‘Architecture’ category

John Lees has been interviewed on the leading website focusing on sustainability in the built environment, Building4Change. Click here to read the full article.

Some of the best news yet to fill our Newsletter; Daisy got engaged this weekend being romantically proposed to on Valentines day…and she said yes! So a huge congratulations to her and Paul.

(…and on the same day Dave turned 30 so a very happy birthday to him!)

THE CRAFTS COUNCIL

The Crafts Council provides support for professional contemporary crafts people in the UK through marketing, exhibitions, their online directory and by their ‘Crafts’ magazine which comes out every two months.

NOTEBOOK

Notebook is the AJ’s new blog showing some of the most recent inspirational designs, all carefully selected by the editors of Architects’ Journal.

STAIR PORN

Stair Porn is a web blog showcasing some of the most innovative stairs across the world. The image to the left shows the Maxxi stairs designed by Zaha Hadid in Rome’s new museum of contemporary art.

‘URBAN ADAPTER’ BENCH

A new approach to city furniture is offered by Rocker-Lange Architects, creating their slender and beautifully formed ’Urban Adapter’ bench as a proposal for Hong Kong’s urban seating.  It’s design allowed adaptability to its surrounding environment, providing it with invaluable flexibility in design.

Before

Lees Associates’ refurbishment of an imposing Decimus Burton Regency villa on the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park has involved the skilled restoration of a number of original features that are integral to its Grade 1 listed status.

Standing proud over the main entrance, it is hard to miss the majestic Caryatids that adorn the central bay of the house: the tapering pillars of their lower bodies and skirts and the slanted capitals forming the headdresses, suggesting an Egyptian influence.

We are currently working on the full refurbishment of one of these Caryatids, which has suffered extensive damage after many years of water penetration, leaving her with a crumbling face and a body that, if left untreated, is in danger of breaking off at any time. Only after the removal of over 175 years worth of paint was the true extent of the damage revealed.

After

Now, with the help of Cliveden Conservation, the restoration process is under way. This entails the strengthening of internal areas and a clay remodelling of the damaged areas to help restore her to her former beauty. A record cast will be made to illustrate the refurbishment work and act as reference of the repair work for the future.

Lees Associates originally gave her the name Doris but, after the removal of two inches of paint, her true youth and beauty has been revealed once more and she is now known as Dieter, which seems more befitting. Soon Dieter will be restored to her complete former glory, and will then safely continue to greet visitors to the newly refurbished property for we hope another 175 years.

On Saturday 11th July, Andrew Paulson and Gary Wait of Lees Associates were delighted to accept an invitation to join other notable names in architecture and the arts at the launch of this year’s Pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. Conceived in 2000 by Serpentine Gallery Director Julia Peyton-Jones, the event is now in its tenth year. The main criterion for an architect to be invited to submit a design for the pavilion is to have never yet completed a building in England.

Lees Associates’ restoration, refurbishment and extension of Dixton Manor, Gloucestershire, completed on schedule in June 2009. Our work has seen the Grade II* listed Cotswolds manor house, which dates back to 1591 and replaced an earlier monastery on the site, transformed.

Websites and news stories that have caught our eye this month:

www.architectsjournal.co.uk/5203067.article
Due to be the world’s tallest building: what is it, where is it and what will its final height be?

weburbanist.com/2008/11/26/creative-modern-stairs-staircase-designs
Take a staircase and add a bit of creativity! This varied collection of ingenious staircases is set to inspire any architectural project.

Recently, Andrew Paulson and Gary Wait of Lees Associates were guests at the first of what will become a quarterly event, fuSE1 in Brew Wharf, located in the heart of Borough Market.

fuSE1 aims to bring together businesses and individuals working in the property and construction industry in the SE1 postcode in order to create new and sustainable business relationships. After a light breakfast and refreshments, Sir Paul Smith took to the stage to say a few words and commend the organisers on their achievement, as well as share his personal climb from unknown to internationally renowned fashion designer; from a small shop in the derelict Covent Garden in the 1970’s to holding a huge portfolio of highly successful stores worldwide.

The event certainly brought together a multitude of highly skilled and talented people from within the SE1 area and many new contacts were established, as well as old ones re-affirmed. This quarterly event, promoting the sharing of knowledge and talent that the SE1 postcode contains, has the potential to grow from strength to strength.

Well done to the organisers and many thanks to the event sponsors: Cowell Consulting, FOM, Norton Rose and SC Design Consulting Ltd.

The Lees Associates team would like to congratulate Andrew Paulson, who has recently been made a Director of the practice, and Gary Wait who has been promoted to an Associate.

Andrew (right) joined Lees Associates in 2003. He was made an Associate in March 2006, shortly after qualifying gaining Chartered Architect status, and quickly established himself as a well-respected and trusted figure in our high-end residential and retail project teams. He now heads our core residential project team.

Gary (left) joined Lees Associates in 2007 and has since been involved in many of Lees Associates high-end residential, retail, hotel and leisure projects. More recently he has taken a leading role on a number of high profile projects.

Congratulations to you both.

Lees Associates were delighted to recently receive planning and listed building consent for the refurbishment and extension of a townhouse and its mews in Eaton Square. This is one of the few remaining undeveloped single family dwellings in the square and holds Grade Two listed status. Consequently planning and conservation were to the fore and required delicate handling.

The proposal involves an increase in floor area from 8,000 sq ft to 11,000 sq ft and a dramatic increase in the quality and amenity of the building. Achieving this involves major works, including the demolition and reconstruction of the adjacent mews property. As the property is also within a conservation area this represented a major undertaking.