{{Short description|British designer and architect}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use British English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox architect | name = Eric Lyons | image = Eric Lyons (1912–1980).jpeg | alt = | caption = Lyons in 1961 | birth_name = Eric Alfred Lyons | birth_date = {{birth year|1912}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death year and age|1980|1912}} | death_place = | other_names = | nationality = | alma_mater = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | awards = | practice = | significant_buildings = | significant_projects = | significant_design = | signature = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | embedded = <!-- For embedding other infoboxes in this infobox --> }} thumb|The Keep, Blackheath a typical set of houses to Eric Lyons' T2 design '''Eric Alfred Lyons''' CBE (1912–1980) was a British designer and architect. He achieved critical recognition in his development of family and technology-embracing housing communities in England in the latter part of the 20th century. His partnership in Span Developments led to the building of over 73 estates, some of which have achieved Conservation area status in recognition of the close communities created with substantial garden areas, glass and light, façade angles used for privacy and decoration and separate garages as a practical Bauhaus for car-based culture and high point of Modern Architecture widely described a "successful, experimental modernism".<ref name=consvndoc>[http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/602/Trees-Conservation-Areas-and-Listed-Buildings Spelthorne Borough Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717075133/http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/602/Trees-Conservation-Areas-and-Listed-Buildings |date=17 July 2013 }} Manygate Lane Conservation Area appraisal: in supporting the "successful implementation of modernism" this source cites appraisals of Lyons' work in:<br> ''The Visual Dictionary of Buildings''– Dorling Kindersley<br> ''A History of English Architecture'' – Pelican<br> ''The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan'' – John Newman<br> ''The Elements of Style'' – Mitchell Besley<br> ''Dictionary of Architecture'' – Penguin<br> ''Dictionary of Building'' – Penguin<br> ''A Vision of Britain'' – Charles, Prince of Wales - Doubleday</ref>
From 1936 to 1937 he worked for Walter Gropius and Maxwell Fry, in the short period that Gropius was in the UK. After World War II he spent a number of years working on various projects, designing flat-pack furniture for Tecta and entering competitions.
It was in 1948 that Span was founded, with Eric Lyons, Leslie Bilsby and Geoff Townsend who had resigned from the RIBA to become a developer (RIBA rules at the time prohibited architects from being developers).
Span estates were typified by sharp Modernist designs with space, light and well-planned interiors, tempered with traditional features such as hung tiles and stock brick. Lavishly landscaped communal gardens were also a common feature of Lyons' designs.
Outside of his Span work, he developed a number of other schemes, such as public housing for World's End in Chelsea, Pitcairn House (1961-63)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.architecture.com/image-library/RIBApix/image-information/poster/pitcairn-house-frampton-park-estate-mare-street-london/posterid/RIBA43948.html|title=Pitcairn House, Frampton Park Estate, Mare Street, London {{!}} RIBA|website=RIBApix|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=dorley-brown|first=chris|title=pitcairn house 1987-2013|date=1987-07-01|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdb1/9163824635/|access-date=2019-09-01}}</ref> as part of the LCC's Frampton Park Estate in Hackney, and his final development in Vilamoura, Portugal.
He was president of the RIBA from 1975 to 1977. He died in 1980 from motor neurone disease.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.highsett-cambridge.uk/h-o-m-e/4588850016 Highsett (Cambridge)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527052541/http://www.highsett-cambridge.uk/h-o-m-e/4588850016 |date=27 May 2019 }} *[http://www.span-kent.co.uk/ New Ash Green history] *[http://www.marshamlodge.co.uk/ Marsham Lodge] *[http://www.templemere.co.uk/ Templemere] *[http://www.fieldend.com/ Fieldend] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060929145548/http://www.riba.org/go/RIBA/News/Press_5728.html Riba exhibition in 2006] *[http://www.elmf.org/about.html Eric Lyons Memorial Fund] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320154205/http://www.elmf.org/about.html |date=20 March 2007 }} *[http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3077683 bdonline: Spanning a diverse art]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, Eric}} Category:1912 births Category:1980 deaths Category:20th-century English architects Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Presidents of the Royal Institute of British Architects Category:Deaths from motor neuron disease