Sustainability

John Lees has been passionate about the environment since his childhood days in Norfolk and for the past 15 years he has been creating buildings that have a strong sustainable agenda. The practice’s mantra is that you don’t have to sacrifice on style to improve a building’s environmental performance. Rather than marl the aesthetic integrity of buildings with clip-on technologies, such as wind turbines, or whacky futuristic materials, the practice prefers instead to subtly weave sustainable materials and energy and water saving mechanisms into the very fabric of their buildings. This sympathetic and often invisible approach has resulted in numerous sophisticated and stylish homes that allow their clients to tread more lightly on the planet.

As the government and public alike become increasingly aware of environmental issues, Lees Associates are being recognised for their longstanding commitment to sustainable design. In 2008 John Lees was invited to address the audience at the Luxury Green event organized by Holloway White Allom. The recent country house project features in November’s House & Garden “Green by Design” supplement, which specifically focuses on sustainable luxury. The house dates back to the 16th century and has been sensitively restored and modernised was deemed perfect for this theme. Materials such as insulation made from recycled paper, lime-based paints and reclaimed timber floors have been used to upgrade the shell of the building while undetectable technologies including under floor heating and a grey water recycling system further boost its green credentials. Finally, the London home of interior designer Nina Campbell, refurbished by Lees Associates, has also recently appeared in House & Garden and The Evening Standard’s Homes & Property section. This project involved upgrading the insulation and installing a low energy boiler and under floor heating and demonstrates that, no matter the size of the project, sustainability and style can coexist.

Lees Associates are currently working on a number of green residential projects. One of the most exciting, just completed, is the Grade II* listed Dixton Manor for which the practice developed a scheme to make the entire estate carbon neutral. A principal feature is a biomass boiler that provides all of the estate’s heating and hot water and which will be fuelled by timber felled exclusively on the property. Through projects such as these the practice will continue to explore and install innovative sustainable technologies in a sympathetic and style-conscious manner. It is a never-ending but exhilarating challenge for which we believe inspirational solutions must be found.

Lees Associates are members of the UK Green Building Council.