Span Developments Limited was a British property development company formed in the late 1950’s by Eric Lyons and Geoffrey Townsend. They teamed up, as developer and architect, with landscape designer Ivor Cunningham. During its most successful period in the sixties, Span built over 2,000 homes in London and Kent – mainly two and three bedroom single-family homes and apartment buildings.
The developments combine modernist design with attention to detail and harmony with the suburban environment. Span houses typically have modernist features such as flat roofs, open-plan interiors and large windows. However, this is combined with traditional features including tile-hanging and brick work.
Housing Design Award speech supplied by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
“…As the new minister for housing and planning in the Lords I am honoured to continue the long tradition of ministerial involvement in the housing design awards. Remarkable to think that for 60 years these awards have connected design with places where people want to live….”
“Places which fulfil their function as well as creating a sense of wonder, a sense of place, a sense of identity.
The judges were looking to find a scheme that showed how good design creates a desirable address and then sustains that appeal. With such a long and distinguished history the judges have had a very difficult task
They have looked for an example of a place that was progressive at the time of its construction and had since broadened its appeal by becoming a classic. They wanted to find a place that would say something about how, we might have lived then, and how we could live now – whether it is the detailing of landscaping, layout, amenity, internal plans or community mix.
Happily there were many schemes they could have alighted on but there was one they felt they wanted to recognise first.
It is Mallard Place, the last flourish of Span Environments, the development business made famous by the architectural team of Eric Lyons and Ivor Cunningham.
It is a mix of 4, 3 and 2 bed houses, 2 bed and one bed apartments and offers accommodation to suit most needs. It was developed at well over 50 homes to the hectare and is the most appealing environment in the area: it even has its own heated outdoor swimming pool.
21 years after it was completed and 20 after it won a Housing Design Award in 1985, there are more people than ever asking agents in Twickenham about the availability of homes in Mallard Place. That is the best possible test of sustainable design . “
