In 1969, a little boy called Patrick Ellard thought he had arrived in paradise. Moving into a radically different home, utterly modern in its design, was fun enough.
In 1969, a little boy called Patrick Ellard thought he had arrived in paradise. Moving into a radically different home, utterly modern in its design, was fun enough.
But then young Patrick found the indoor space of the home merged almost seamlessly with the outside space - space he suddenly found himself sharing with other children all around him.
But then young Patrick found the indoor space of the home merged almost seamlessly with the outside space - space he suddenly found himself sharing with other children all around him.
Playing outside at New Ash Green, a Span development in Kent, did not mean the back garden - it meant something different. And it was all largely down to one man, an architect called Eric Lyons.
Playing outside at New Ash Green, a Span development in Kent, did not mean the back garden - it meant something different. And it was all largely down to one man, an architect called Eric Lyons.
Thirty years later, Patrick, his sister Juliet, their partners and parents Liz and Lyle, all have their own homes back at New Ash Green.
Thirty years later, Patrick, his sister Juliet, their partners and parents Liz and Lyle, all have their own homes back at New Ash Green.
"I think in all honesty it conditioned my life, my entire outlook," says Patrick. "I lived in other places when I went to college but there was nothing like the design and space of Span."
"I think in all honesty it conditioned my life, my entire outlook," says Patrick. "I lived in other places when I went to college but there was nothing like the design and space of Span."
Eric Lyons remains one of the most respected British housing architects of the 20th Century. But he is little known outside professional circles.
Eric Lyons remains one of the most respected British housing architects of the 20th Century. But he is little known outside professional circles.
Some 25 years after his death, the Royal Institute of British Architects has launched a book and exhibition to explain how Lyons and the associated firm, Span, completely rethought how homes should work - and has left lessons that could be important in the current rush to build.
Some 25 years after his death, the Royal Institute of British Architects has launched a book and exhibition to explain how Lyons and the associated firm, Span, completely rethought how homes should work - and has left lessons that could be important in the current rush to build.
Lyons and his Span team built some 2,100 homes in 73 developments between 1948 and 1969.
Lyons and his Span team built some 2,100 homes in 73 developments between 1948 and 1969.
He placed three basic principles at the heart of the Span projects:• community as the goal• shared landscape as the means, and• modern, controlled design as the expression.
He placed three basic principles at the heart of the Span projects:• community as the goal• shared landscape as the means, and• modern, controlled design as the expression.
Many developments focus only on the creation of private domestic space - they treat the area beyond the front door as incidental.
Many developments focus only on the creation of private domestic space - they treat the area beyond the front door as incidental.
Jan Woudstra, an architect who teaches landscape, says Lyons was a British architect with "European sensibility".
Jan Woudstra, an architect who teaches landscape, says Lyons was a British architect with "European sensibility".
"Span thought about a community first and the buildings second. They used the placing of the buildings to shape the communal space,"he says.
"Span thought about a community first and the buildings second. They used the placing of the buildings to shape the communal space,"he says.
"In Span you park your car and you walk through part of the estate to your own home. You have to talk to each other. The interaction is arranged through the landscape. It's landscape first and landscape last.
"In Span you park your car and you walk through part of the estate to your own home. You have to talk to each other. The interaction is arranged through the landscape. It's landscape first and landscape last.
"This is an approach to housing that we see on the Continent - but in this country the landscape has tended not to be valued to the same extent."
"This is an approach to housing that we see on the Continent - but in this country the landscape has tended not to be valued to the same extent."
So does the practice lives up to the theory?
So does the practice lives up to the theory?
On a daily basis Span residents say they find themselves walking past neighbours' front doors as part of their ordinary business.
On a daily basis Span residents say they find themselves walking past neighbours' front doors as part of their ordinary business.
Family affair: The Ellards - all Span residentsThe transfer of what would elsewhere have been private garden or parking space into open public greens creates meeting places for adults and a play ground for children.
Family affair: The Ellards - all Span residentsThe transfer of what would elsewhere have been private garden or parking space into open public greens creates meeting places for adults and a play ground for children.
Indeed, mathematical modelling of how people use space, conducted by architects at University College London, found that Span residents do have more chances to interact than people living on other developments. Eric Lyons may not have used a computer - but his gut feelings seemed to have been right.
All of which sounds too good to be true.
All of which sounds too good to be true.
Despite their iconic feel, Span homes can be found suffering many problems seen in speculative projects.
Despite their iconic feel, Span homes can be found suffering many problems seen in speculative projects.
Some "K-Type" homes, pictured at the top of this story, are notorious for condensation. Other terraces have such thin party walls that you can hear every cough and squeak.
Some "K-Type" homes, pictured at the top of this story, are notorious for condensation. Other terraces have such thin party walls that you can hear every cough and squeak.
Renovations can be very expensive because Span homes do not fit into an easy mould of the local building suppliers' products.
Renovations can be very expensive because Span homes do not fit into an easy mould of the local building suppliers' products.
And then there are the residents' societies. Each homeowner becomes a shareholder in the estate. The society is the defender of the Span faith and a residents' covenant discourages any customisation - right down to hanging baskets.
And then there are the residents' societies. Each homeowner becomes a shareholder in the estate. The society is the defender of the Span faith and a residents' covenant discourages any customisation - right down to hanging baskets.
This means your neighbours have a final say on any changes that affect a property's external look.
This means your neighbours have a final say on any changes that affect a property's external look.
Some former residents complain of almost impossible restrictions, particularly over proposed extensions that meet planning criteria - but not subjective architectural judgements.
Some former residents complain of almost impossible restrictions, particularly over proposed extensions that meet planning criteria - but not subjective architectural judgements.
Patrick Ellard: "Idyllic childhood"Eric Lyons died in 1980 - and for the next 20 years it appeared his ideals of community and shared space had been swept away by the desire for individualism and privacy.
Patrick Ellard: "Idyllic childhood"Eric Lyons died in 1980 - and for the next 20 years it appeared his ideals of community and shared space had been swept away by the desire for individualism and privacy.
But today, architects are looking again as we ask questions about the quality of new communities being built right across Britain.
But today, architects are looking again as we ask questions about the quality of new communities being built right across Britain.
Stephen Procter of Procter and Matthews architects, has been reviving Span principles at the Abode development in Newhall, Harlow. Eighty homes have been built to national acclaim that bring together contemporary design and a sense of space.
Stephen Procter of Procter and Matthews architects, has been reviving Span principles at the Abode development in Newhall, Harlow. Eighty homes have been built to national acclaim that bring together contemporary design and a sense of space.
"I don't think we give enough choice to people about how they want to live," says Mr Procter.
"I don't think we give enough choice to people about how they want to live," says Mr Procter.
"There was never a suggestion that everyone should live in a Span house - but they plugged a gap in the market with very thoughtful use of domestic space.
"There was never a suggestion that everyone should live in a Span house - but they plugged a gap in the market with very thoughtful use of domestic space.
"It's a struggle to find support for these ideas - but it is up to us to make sure that it works."
"It's a struggle to find support for these ideas - but it is up to us to make sure that it works."
Back at New Ash Green in Kent, Liz Ellard, Patrick's mother and a retired school teacher, has no doubt that these homes work.
Back at New Ash Green in Kent, Liz Ellard, Patrick's mother and a retired school teacher, has no doubt that these homes work.
"I remember watching our children play outside, running along the paths to see the others. We're so happy to see younger couples having the same experience as we had."
"I remember watching our children play outside, running along the paths to see the others. We're so happy to see younger couples having the same experience as we had."
The Eric Lyons and Span exhibition runs at Riba in London until 22 December. An accompanying book is also available from Riba Publishing. Dominic Casciani lives in a Span Developments home.
The Eric Lyons and Span exhibition runs at Riba in London until 22 December. An accompanying book is also available from Riba Publishing. Dominic Casciani lives in a Span Developments home.
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