{"id":657,"date":"2026-01-20T14:40:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T14:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.millboard.com\/en-gb\/?post_type=case-study&p=657"},"modified":"2026-01-20T17:21:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T17:21:17","slug":"lea","status":"publish","type":"case-study","link":"https:\/\/www.millboard.com\/en-us\/case-studies\/lea\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lea, Guernsey\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Lea, Guernsey<\/h2>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n <\/colgroup>\n\n \n \n \n
\n Location <\/th>\n \n Les Nicolles Forest, Guernsey\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Designer <\/th>\n \n DLM Architects\n <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Lea Residential Project, modern living in a forest setting<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tucked on the edge of Les\u00a0Nicolles\u00a0Forest in the parish of the Forest,\u00a0Guernsey,\u00a0The Lea is a calm, contemporary development that quietly redefines what modern island living can feel like. Designed by DLM Architects<\/a> and delivered by Infinity Construction Ltd<\/a>, this collection of homes brings together clean architectural lines, high thermal performance and carefully chosen materials, including\u00a0Millboard\u00a0Envello\u00a0Shadow Line+ siding in Golden Oak and Burnt Cedar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completed in 2022, The Lea offers a selection of local market properties, from two bedroom apartments with parking to three bedroom mews style houses, all set in a rural, tree-lined location. The ambition was to create beautifully detailed homes that feel luxurious to live in, while treading lightly on the surrounding landscape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brief: luxury, light touch and long-term performance<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Nicolles Forest is a picturesque yet ecologically sensitive setting. The design team needed to respond with a scheme that felt premium and contemporary, but with a restrained material palette and a strong focus on sustainability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge went far beyond appearance. The homes had to be thermally efficient, comfortable all year round and economical to run. Facades needed to work hard too. Exposed to coastal weather and woodland conditions, the external finishes had to offer long term durability, color\u00a0stability\u00a0and\u00a0low maintenance\u00a0for residents, without constant cleaning,\u00a0sanding,\u00a0staining or replacement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development also needed a clear identity. Rather than a uniform brick estate, The Lea was envisioned as a modern, characterful place to live, with warm textures, carefully balanced tones and elevations that sit comfortably within the surrounding greenery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the team chose\u00a0Millboard\u00a0Envello\u00a0Shadow Line+ <\/strong>siding\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To answer these practical and aesthetic demands, the project team specified\u00a0Millboard\u00a0Envello\u00a0Shadow Line+ resin mineral composite <\/a>siding in Golden Oak and Burnt Cedar. The rich tones and subtle, organic\u00a0grain of the\u00a0Millboard\u00a0siding boards\u00a0give the warmth of timber siding, while offering a more stable and durable fa\u00e7ade solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Oak brings a light, sun-kissed character to key elevations, while Burnt Cedar offers depth and contrast, echoing the darker trunks and shadows within the adjacent forest. Used together, the two finishes introduce a natural look that softens the contemporary architecture and ties the buildings back to the landscape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because\u00a0Millboard siding is designed to\u00a0offer exceptional\u00a0resistance\u00a0to fading and challenging weather, it was well suited to Guernsey\u2019s maritime climate. The material helps to\u00a0maintain\u00a0its appearance over time, reducing the likelihood of patchy weathering or color variation that can sometimes affect traditional timber fa\u00e7ades\u00a0and some composite alternatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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