John Lee

John Lee serves as Senior Lecturer and School Technologies Lead for the Master of Architecture (MArch) program at Manchester School of Architecture, Manchester Metropolitan University. He has taught with the Continuity in Architecture unit since 2004, developing design techniques that treat cities and buildings as socio-spatial artifacts to achieve urban continuity through rigorous contextual analysis.

His academic foundation includes a First Class BSc(Hons) in Architecture from The Bartlett School (UCL), followed by a DipArch and Masters in Advanced Architectural Studies at UCL, where he collaborated with the Space Syntax Laboratory.

Lee's research centers on architectural design, urban continuity, and small settlements, with specific focus on ornament-tectonics relationships and the physical expression of form through materiality, texture, and spatial configuration. He investigates how traditional architectural means inform contemporary design, particularly in historic contexts.

His recent publications (2023-2025) reveal sustained exploration of facade composition, tectonic expression, and contextual design in small settlements, emphasizing ornament's role in bridging craft traditions with modern building technologies while addressing urban continuity challenges.

Lee's scientific recognition includes:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

As an educator, he mentors through postgraduate studios in the Continuity in Architecture unit and leads the Continuity Small Settlements Group, producing design guides for towns and villages. His dual professional practice—Arca (testing theoretical ideas through diverse projects like skateparks and church conversions) and Y Developments (residential property development)—complements his academic work.

Lee directs the Continuity Small Settlements Group, collaborating with communities to characterize distinctive places through research-by-design activities. His practice Arca implements theoretical concepts in real-world projects, while exhibitions like 'Dressing Modernism' (2024) demonstrate applied research in urban contexts.