Conservation Area (CA)
No CA
Local Listing Reference
LLHA0187
Description
Flats, 1958, by Eric Lyons with Geoffrey Townsend. 4 storeys with flat roof. Brick, hung tile and decorative hollow blockwork, built around a courtyard. Coloured glazing is used to the stairwells (courtyard elevations). The buildings have a strong horizontal emphasis. Lyons co-founded the development company Span in 1948, along with Geoffrey Townsend and Leslie Bilsby. The company was so-called as it aimed to ‘span’ the gap between high-end architect-designed developments and post-war mass housing. He made his name building small developments in Richmond and Blackheath during the 1950s. His designs seek to maximise space and light, whilst blurring the edges between outside and indoor space. They use contemporary materials interspersed with more traditional elements such as hung tile, and often incorporate communal areas to encourage residents to mix. All these elements are evident in the Park Gate development. Source: Nairn & Pevsner 1965, Parkgate website, The Modern House website.
A. Architectural, design and artistic interest
iii A good and rare example of this style and period, including innovative design in terms of both detailing and social organisation iv Good example of work by the nationally recognised architect Eric Lyons, incorporating many of his common design elements.
C. Townscape interest
ii Park Gate is not within a conservation area, but contributes to the streetscene as a good quality example of a building of this period.
E. Rarity and representativeness
ii The only building in Brighton & Hove known to have been designed by Eric Lyons.
F. Intactness
i The design appears to remain largely intact.
Date of inclusion
Pre-2015
