The LBY Architects Practice

The LBY Architect Team, four men and three women, standing and sitting in front of a colourful building with teal-green and white walls on a city street.

LBY Architects was founded in 2011 by John Lyall, Chris Bills and Neil Young – a partnership built on more than 25 years of collaboration.

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The practice brings together deep experience across housing, regeneration, education, infrastructure and cultural design. Notable projects include the £50 million Cranfields Mill regeneration in Ipswich, the Jerwood Dance House, and award-winning infrastructure buildings for the London Olympic Park.

LBY has a long-standing relationship with the Department for Education and continues to shape forward-thinking education environments – from new academies and University Technical Colleges to research-led schemes like the GenZero prototype schools. The practice also works closely with Moulton College, helping evolve its campus through carefully integrated new buildings.

Creative Thinking, Practical Delivery

A hallmark of the studio’s work is its refusal to follow formula. Every project begins with context: place, purpose, and people. The result is a portfolio that balances creativity and clarity – from landmark civic buildings to quiet, technically demanding infrastructure.

LBY’s work has been widely published in the architectural and mainstream press, and recognised with Civic Trust, RIBA, CEEQUAL and industry design awards. All three directors remain hands-on in the design process, leading a close-knit team of architects and assistants who share a commitment to quality, rigour and responsiveness.

Our Approach

We believe architecture should respond – not repeat.

Every project is different. Our work begins with a clear understanding of place, people and purpose — then we apply creative thinking and technical clarity to shape something that’s tailored, enduring and built to last.

From concept to completion, we balance design ambition with practical delivery — ensuring that what we build works as well as it looks.

The Studio

The LBY studio is a collaborative, open environment where architects and assistants work side by side. We value fresh thinking, shared insight, and diverse perspectives — and we approach every project as a collective, not a hierarchy.

We foster a culture of curiosity, precision and shared purpose. That energy comes through in our work.

We design together.

Meet the Team

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JOHN

John Lyall trained at the Architectural Association and built his reputation in the 1980s through landmark projects in the UK and internationally. Early in his career, he worked with Cedric Price and Piano + Rogers before co-founding Alsop & Lyall, later establishing John Lyall Architects in 1991 and Lyall, Bills & Young Architects in 2011.

Alongside leading award-winning practices, John has taught and examined widely – combining design leadership with mentorship and advocacy. He is particularly recognised for his work with historic buildings, earning Civic Trust, RIBA, RICS and British Archaeological awards for his sensitive and inventive adaptations.

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CHRIS

Chris Bills co-founded Lyall, Bills & Young Architects in 2011, having worked alongside John and Neil since 2007. His experience spans more than 30 years across the UK and Europe, including extensive work in housing, mixed-use and community-led developments.

Chris has particular strength in design coordination and project delivery — guiding teams from early design through to completion. His site experience and technical understanding are central to how he resolves complexity and builds trust across multi-disciplinary teams.

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NEIL

Neil Young has worked in architectural practice for over 25 years and co-founded Lyall, Bills & Young in 2011. He leads the practice’s work in education, and has delivered projects across schools, infrastructure, residential and retail sectors.

Neil acts as both Technical and Client Design Advisor on Department for Education programmes. He has led LBY’s work on research initiatives including the GenZero prototype schools, St Mary’s Biophilic Primary, and Space Standardisation, and contributed to the development of DfE’s Post Occupancy Review strategy.

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MIYONG

Miyong Rathe joined LBY in 2011, having previously worked with the founding partners at John Lyall Architects. She has delivered key projects including Jerwood Dance House, Cranfields Mill in Ipswich, and major residential schemes in Chatham and Staines.

Her experience also spans a wide range of education projects, from early years to universities, including a DfE prototype biophilic primary school. Miyong brings an ability to manage complexity with clarity, resolving design challenges through thoughtful and elegant solutions.

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CARLOS

Carlos Schwarz Rodriguez joined LBY in 2015, bringing experience from international practices in Switzerland, Ireland and Spain. His portfolio includes housing, education, conservation and sustainability-led projects, with a strong grounding in both design and delivery.

At LBY, he plays a lead role in education work and acts as a technical advisor to the Department for Education, including contributions to the GenZero schools initiative. Carlos also manages BIM coordination across the studio and has been recognised for innovation in digital design.

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NATALIA

Natalia Kallas has worked across all stages of architectural delivery, with projects ranging from residential and commercial to community-focused and sustainable design. She has a particular interest in the renovation and rehabilitation of existing buildings.

At LBY, she has contributed to the delivery of complex schemes, including technical and construction-stage support for Mountbatten House in Chatham. Natalia’s calm, detail-driven approach supports both creativity and technical accuracy throughout the process.

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FATIMA

Fatima Ladak brings experience across a range of building types — including housing, healthcare and education, with projects delivered in both the UK and Nepal. She has led schemes from early design through to completion and brings a sharp eye to both strategy and detail.

At LBY, Fatima works on education projects for the Department for Education, advising on primary and secondary schools with complex site and delivery requirements. She combines a strong technical skillset with an intuitive approach to problem-solving and coordination.

Recognition & Awards

Our work has been widely recognised for design quality, technical excellence and social value.

Selected awards include:

  • RICS East of England Project of the Year

  • Civic Trust Award

  • RIBA Regional Awards

  • CEEQUAL Outstanding Achievement for Sustainability

  • Architectural Review / MIPIM Future Projects Award

LBY’s projects have been featured in publications including: Architects’ Journal, Architecture Today, Blueprint, and The Architectural Review.

Affiliations & Memberships

We are proud to maintain the highest professional standards.

LBY Architects is an active member of:

  • Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

  • Architects Registration Board (ARB)

  • Design Council (UK)

Our Clients & Collaborators

Selected Clients include:

  • A2 Dominion Housing Association

  • Arcadis Limited 

  • Argent

  • Barhale Construction Plc

  • B3 Living Housing Association 

  • Black and Veatch Limited

  • Brent Council

  • Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)

  • Dance East

  • Deanes School, Essex

  • Department for Education 

  • Essex County Council 

  • Harlow Renaissance 

  • InteGreat Yarmouth

  • ISG Jackson

  • Knight Frank

  • Laing O’Rourke 

  • London Borough of Bromley

  • London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

  • London Borough of Haringey

  • London Borough of Wandsworth 

  • London Development Agency

  • London Diocese of Southwark 

  • London Underground Ltd

  • Lord's Taverners 

  • Market Field School

  • Matchroom Sport Limited 

  • Medway Renaissance

  • Mott MacDonald Limited

  • Northampton Council

  • Norwich City Council

  • Paladin Ltd 

  • Pigeon Group Ltd 

  • Premier Inn Hotels, Whitbread plc 

  • Science Museum London

  • Siemens 

  • Shaftesbury Plc

  • Southampton City Council

  • St James Group Ltd 

  • Thames Water Limited

  • Thames Water Property (Kennet Properties)

  • The British Library

  • The Goldsmiths’ Livery Company

  • Transport for London

  • Wharfside Regeneration Ltd

  • Whitelaw and Bordon Properties 

  • Woodhall Properties Ltd

Consultants:

  • Alan Baxter & Associates

  • ANCER Spa

  • Anthony Hunt Associates

  • Box Products

  • Buro Four

  • Buro Happold

  • Campbell Reith & Hill

  • Conisbee 

  • CCRE

  • F.J. Samuely & Partners

  • Gustafson Porter

  • Hornagold & Hills

  • Jackson Coles

  • Jackson International

  • Jennifer Coe

  • Kehr & Tucker

  • Lighting Design International

  • Mace

  • Max Fordham LLP

  • Michael Popper Associates LLP

  • Mott Macdonald

  • MLM 

  • Northcroft

  • Ove Arup & Partners

  • Peter Brett Associates

  • Planning and Regeneration Ltd

  • Price and Myers

  • Project Solutions

  • Sham

  • Single Point Planning Management Ltd

  • Sylvia Bartlett

  • Techniker

  • Tony Reason

  • Urban Catalyst

  • Urban Cultures Ltd

  • Urban Initiatives

  • WS Atkins Regeneration

Artisits:

  • Alison Turnbull

  • Bruce Maclean

  • Rosemary Butcher Dance Company

  • Stuart Haygarth  

Whether you're looking to collaborate, commission or just have a conversation – we’d love to hear from you.

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