The Lakes By Yoo Preview

to our new Lakes Magazine.…

It has been quite a journey from conceiving the idea of The Lakes in the early 90s to first visiting a gravel pit in 1999 to where things stand today…

Now you will find 11 magnificent lakes, 170 beautiful houses, a stunning spa and a fabulous restaurant, while hundreds of thousands of plants and trees have been planted, with habitats restored and created to entice animals, birds, insects and… people! To the team of thousands who over the years have helped shape and develop this thriving project, the landscapers, designers, builders, engineers, cleaners, managers, maintenance teams and many others, a huge thank you. To watch kids (and grown-ups) conquer fears, play, learn and discover nature; to watch lifelong friendships grow –this is what The Lakes is all about.

The classic car collection is off to a flying start. A few Lakes’ owners have

come together to share ownership and cruise around the Cotswolds in some classics, including a red 308 Ferrari, a flower-power violet Jaguar E-Type, a classic Bentley convertible and more to come. We have enjoyed a couple of fun family adventure days out with friends and other car enthusiasts visiting the Classic Motor Hub in Bibury. Nick and Netty Mason turned heads with their Ferrari 250 GTO; Yasmin Le Bon with her fully refurbed Jag XK120. We’re planning more events in the future.

The Art Park is another initiative that has emerged in recent times where a few owners have come together to invest in artworks and sculptures that brighten up our landscape.

Yoshitomo Nara’s Your Dog and the KAWS piece make many smile, while the mesmerising Hockney trip through Woldgate Woods reminds many of The Lakes in winter. There are a few more on their way…

The Lakes Bar & Kitchen has now been open for a few weeks. We had a great performance by Natalie Imbruglia to kick off our music sessions. Again, more to come in the future.

The beautiful cabins and apartments designed by our multi-award-winning team have proved a huge success in both sales and rentals. Now couples and small groups are able to come visit and live with us for a day, a week, a month, a year – or forever.

JOHN HITCHCOX

THE DESIGNER

Philippe Starck, a world-famous designer with an impressively varied CV, is always focused on his vision: that creation, whatever form it takes, must improve the lives of as many people as possible. This philosophy has made him one of the pioneers and central figures of the concept of ‘democratic design’ and the perfect person to team up with John Hitchcox to create the YOO brand.

His prolific career has seen his work span all domains, from everyday products (furniture, a citrus squeezer, electric bikes, an individual wind turbine) to architecture (hotels, restaurants that aspire to be stimulating places) and naval and spatial engineering (mega yachts, habitation module for private space tourism) and his expertise is evident in every aspect of The Lakes by YOO.

How did you first get involved with YOO?

To have beautiful children, parents must be in love. That’s what happened with John Hitchcox. When he approached me to collaborate, he presented me with

an incredible concept that would change the way we live and encourage us to thrive in and be inspired by our homes and environment. This is how we created YOO.

As a creative director, what is your role at YOO? And alongside John Hitchcox, how did you develop the concept of YOO inspired by Starck?

YOO is a unique concept in the world. It allows our sentimental tribe to be helped with competence, honesty and tenderness at a very crucial moment of their life – the purchase of their apartment. I refuse to design private homes as I want to avoid the designer influence on private and personal life. I believe one has to create and make her or his own nest and not live in the head of an interior designer. I prefer to express my creativity through my work for public spaces. However, sometimes one may need some professional help from a ‘friend’ who is skilled in architecture and design. For example, for costly purchases like all the permanent fixtures – floor, bathrooms, etc. This is the concept and the role of YOO.

Renowned architect Philippe Starck is an integral part of the YOO family – we spoke to him to find out more about his creative process and inspiration

PHILIPPE STARCK

How do you approach the creative process at YOO?

YOO is a philosophy. We started by spending our days dreaming of a kind of utopia, where all our friends could coexist harmoniously. And as creators, we imagined extraordinary places where we could live happily and have fun. This gave birth to YOO, like ‘you’ in English, because it is literally about ‘you’. YOO is not about determining a style for a target customer. I don’t focus on concrete, stone or glass; I only care about the impact of our designs on the end user. YOO buildings are created, designed and built for you, based on your personal needs and your own tastes. We have created a great game: if a person wants to buy an apartment at YOO, we show the person some pictures of a tree, a landscape, a mirror, etc, and they say: “I love this one or I hate that one.” After a few minutes, you see if the person is part of one of our style families: Nature / Culture / Classic

/ Minimal. This means that above all, YOO helps you know yourself better, helps you recognise your own style. Then we can determine all the basics such as countertops, floors, door handles… In the end, everything you cannot move now fits with your family. And after that, you do what you want because it is your life.

What makes great design?

It is never about design, but always about humanity. I believe that every person who is born signs a contract with his or her community, family, village, society, civilisation or animal species. This contract can take many forms, but in all cases, the basis of the contract is to help one’s community in order to help the evolution of our animal species. Everyone’s role is political, social and human. For a designer, it is more vital, because he is a producer of ideas.

We also have to take into account the ecological urgency by respecting the following parameters: longevity, transmission and heritage. When we buy something, it should be used for ourselves, for life, for our children and grandchildren. And not last three months because the trend has changed. Today, a good design must be intelligent, honest and durable.

YOO IS LIKE ‘YOU’ IN ENGLISH, BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY ABOUT ‘YOU’

Below YOO buildings are created, designed and built based on an individual’s personal needs and their own tastes

Who or what are you inspired by?

I love and admire the most beautiful specimens of human intelligence, such as the great scientists, especially from the beginning of science. Those who, like Eratosthenes with very few means – a camel, a well, a stick of a few centimetres – were able to measure the size of the earth with only four per cent error.

What were your considerations in design and building a team to design?

I am more like a lonely creator; I admire people who can create in a group, what we call now collaborative work, but it is not my nature. I dream alone. I draw everything alone with my tracing paper and pencil in a very quiet environment in the middle of nowhere. Then I have a very close team to develop – there are very few of us, so we work a lot.”

Do you follow any particular styles or is it more about working with the space and finding a new way of looking at it?

I believe that you should not follow trends, and above all, not confuse your flat with a showroom. I advise buying

TODAY, A GOOD DESIGN MUST BE HONEST AND DURABLE

what you want when you want, and remaining totally free. The only acceptable fashion is freedom and the recognition of one’s own difference. Everyone should be allowed to have his or her own bad taste.

Looking at The Lakes by YOO specifically, can you elaborate on your role and any specific properties?

The Lakes by YOO is a dream. When you close your eyes and think of where you want to be with your loved ones and your family, you are at The Lakes by YOO.

Do you have any favourite properties or spaces? I prefer mental journeys.

What are you working on next?

Always working towards more dematerialisation and dream.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Let’s go and dream.

Above and right YOO aims to help buyers recognise and understand their own style so that every aspect of a YOO property fits with them and their family

SUSTAINABLY YOURS…

As more couples seek eco-friendly ways to get married, The Lakes by YOO can accommodate your sustainable wedding without compromising on quality and style…

Hidden within 850 acres of stunning freshwater lakes, woodland and rambling meadows, this awardwinning private country estate has everything you could wish for in terms of location, accommodation and facilities. Sustainability is integral at The Lakes by YOO and a huge investment has allowed areas of the estate to be left to develop naturally, with more than 500,000 trees planted, natural ponds and a mini farm offering shelter to rescue animals. With a diverse choice of venues available, this is the ideal place for couples who enjoy the great outdoors and being at one with nature in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

THE SETTING

LOCALLY SOURCED

Local food and drink are a must for eco-friendly catering, and offering a seasonal menu is a simple way to cut down on processed or artificially ripened foods. The Lakes by YOO has compiled a list of local caterers for you to create a bespoke wedding menu. Facilitating local suppliers will have a major impact on the carbon footprint of your wedding. Incorporating local organic produce will also help smaller farming communities thrive, and this way you’ll know exactly where your food is coming from!

PRELOVED BRIDALWEAR

There are many reasons why a bride might opt for a second-hand dress, and one is that it’s environmentally friendly to give a wedding dress that’s in good condition another trip down the aisle. You may want to hold on to tradition by wearing your mother’s or grandmother’s dress. Keeping it in the family will add a touch of nostalgia to your wedding theme and you’ll have that special connection on your wedding day. The tradition of wearing your mother’s wedding dress dates back to ancient times, when it was thought that the dress would absorb some of her good luck and pass it on to you. It’s a lovely sentiment and a beautiful way to honour your mum, while doing your bit to save the planet! There are lots of worn-once dresses available online, and with fashions constantly changing, you could bag yourself a beautiful dress at a bargain price and have a dressmaker customise it to your own bespoke design. Want a new dress made with sustainable fabrics? There are stockists of ethical wedding gowns made with mindful fabrics that have a lower impact on the environment, such as hemp silks and organic ‘peace’ satins. Whether you’re an eco-conscious brideto-be or maybe vegan and looking for a dress that sits well with your values, there are beautiful styles available at several bridal couture outlets.

ALL INCLUSIVE

Here at The Lakes by YOO, we’re experts at hosting exclusive events. Having your ceremony and reception in one place removes the need for guests to travel from one location to another, which can make a massive difference to your carbon footprint. We offer spectacular accommodation, including a stunning five-bedroomed manor house, as well as lakeside apartments and cabins.

ATTIRE FOR HIRE

Finding the right formalwear for the groom and groomsmen is important, but if you’re not generally suit wearers, it makes sense to hire rather than buy. It will make it easier to be coordinated, plus hiring is the environmentally friendly option, especially for a traditional morning suit, as it’ll likely only be worn once.

FLOWER POWER

When choosing flowers, consider the carbon footprint of transporting them from overseas, not to mention exploitation issues in the supply chain. We can help you find reputable florists who supply local, seasonal, freshly cut flowers. For centrepieces, why not opt for potted orchids, roses and other flowering plants? These can be reused in the home or gifted after the event.

INVITATIONS

If you prefer traditional handwritten invitations, consider using recycled paper and vegetable-based inks. Some brands even offer paper containing seeds. Or go paperless and work with a graphic designer to create email invitations. There are also free wedding websites that provide updates for your guests, saving both time and money.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

TIME OF YEAR

In summer, the natural heat and light will keep your guests comfortable without the need for artificial heating and lighting – very eco-friendly!

GROUP TRANSPORT

Fewer cars will help reduce emissions, so why not organise a bus or a coach to transport guests to your wedding?

FAVOURS

Give a gift to help the environment, such as packs of wildflower seeds or home-made birdseed favours, vegan candles, eco-friendly wedding favour crackers and pretty lotus flowers made with organic seed paper.

CONFETTI

Biodegradable confetti is easy to make using tissue paper, dried-flower petals or fresh rose petals, or try seasonal leaves such as oak – anything as long as it’s dye-free and compostable!

OASIS OF CALM

THE CONCEPT

Shelley Hepburn, a wellness and spa expert with more than 20 years’ concept and commercial experience in positioning and optimising wellness offerings, was delighted to work with The Lakes by YOO team to develop a unique offering, with the underpinning mantra of being present, connected and living.

Shelley tells us: “The Lakes by YOO wellness concept has a space of its own, the core concept is to support longevity by taking inspiration from the blue zones, where people live longer and have fewer diseases. The Japanese secret to a long and happy life is to be connected, do what you love and keep our minds active, which means a healthy body, being mindful about reducing stress, getting enough sleep, being with nature and improving immunity.

“By balancing our clients’ wellness pillars – Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and Connection – they will have a much greater capacity to flourish and grow, to endure life’s challenges and stressors with ease.

“Regardless of the season, The Lakes by YOO wellness offering includes countless activities and adventures to fulfil our clients’ every desire.

Escaping from urban living is a sentiment woven into the essence of The Lakes by YOO community, with a philosophy that is the antithesis of a stale hotel/spa experience.

“Our innovative approach and methodologies have been curated to support and balance emotional, physical and mental well-being for our clients.”

The Lakes Spa & Wellness Centre, set in the heart of the estate, has everything needed to ensure residents and guests can relax in stunning surroundings with lakeside views

FACILITIES

The Spa boasts an outdoor pool, as well as a state-of-the-art 17m indoor heated pool. There are two beautiful contemporary treatment rooms, plus a sauna and steam room – must-haves for guests to relax and recuperate.

The fitness suite features state-of-theart TechnoGym Skill equipment and Escape Fitness rig equipment, ensuring guests have the highest-quality fitness facilities available. There’s also a specialist studio for group practice.

There’s something for every level of fitness, including personal training and a good selection of classes, including yoga and tennis lessons.

This page Escaping from urban living is a sentiment woven in the essence of The Lakes by YOO community

WELL-BEING WARDROBE AT ONE WITH NATURE

With the belief that clothing should not only make you look good, but feel good too, The Lakes has partnered with model and Wellwear founder David Gandy to offer Wellwear Restore clothing. When worn, tactile, mineralinfused fabrics and sustainable fibres are given technical treatments to enhance the wearer’s physical wellbeing and aid post-workout recovery.

Reconnect with family and friends amid gorgeous gardens, woodland trails and freshwater lakes. Likened to a modernday Swallows and Amazons, at The Lakes by YOO guests can partake in a variety of watersports in beautiful surroundings. Wild swimming improves circulation, reduces body pain and boosts brain power – why not try it with your loved ones? It’s exhilarating!

Treatments

The spa offers an extensive collection of restorative treatments, developed by The Lakes by Yoo’s exclusive spa partners, COSMOSS, MOSS of the ISLES and Dr Barbara Sturm

SIGNATURE #STURMGLOW

60 MIN, £200

Created by renowned German aesthetics doctor, Dr Barbara Sturm, this revitalising facial will cleanse, nourish and awaken the skin. Light-reflecting pigments in GLOW DROPS will reduce any irregularities in skin tone, resulting in a youthful and radiant complexion.

MEN’S FACIAL

60 MIN, £200

Customised to the specific needs and challenges of men’s skin, which differs dermatologically to women’s, this anti-ageing facial exfoliates, calms and comforts the skin, especially after shaving. It removes dry skin and helps to soothe under-eye discolouration and puffiness.

MOSS OF THE ISLES MASSAGE TRILOGY

60/90 MIN, £110/£160

From the Irish wellness brand, this therapeutic experience has been developed using the practices and philosophies of ancient healers. It is in three parts: Quiet to promote overall rest and well-being; Warm to help improve flexibility and aid recovery; and Cleanse to reset the body to regain energy, relieve stagnation and improve skin tone.

COSMOSS DAWN RITUAL

120 MINS, £250

Inspired by the brand’s ethos of Dusk and Dawn, this ritual encourages guests to switch off and connect with themselves. The treatment commences with a cup of alkalising Dawn Tea followed by an invigoration body brush, a mind-boosting ice plunge and a full body massage. A nourishing and hydrating facial follows, culminating in a spritz of Sacred Mist to restore emotional balance and improve the mood.

CLASSIC CAR COLLECTION

The

sense of community that

underpins

The Lakes by YOO is epitomised by the Classic Car Collection, the first of many initiatives to bring residents together, says John Hitchcox

The age of environmental imperative is fast-tracking a sea change in automotive thinking. The internal combustion engine is no longer sustainable. But, somewhat against the odds, classic cars have become something of a phenomenon. Instead of representing discredited power and performance, they now fuse an appreciation of design, engineering, history and even investment potential. Unsurprisingly, many residents of The Lakes by YOO share a discerning taste for classic cars, which is why John Hitchcox set up a club on site. We asked him to articulate the plan.

Tell us a bit about your classic car plan

Residents have been asking about classic and sports car storage for years and there seems to be a real interest in the romance, beauty and history of cars. So, we decided to start a Classic Car Collection that will not only bring together some of our owners and enthusiasts, but also reflect our true sense of community at The Lakes.

Is it intended to be a bit of extra sparkle, or would you like to create something The Lakes is renowned for?

The Lakes is renowned for bringing people together who have shared interests, whether that be simply a love of the outdoors or, in this case, a classic car collection. It’s not something I would have done alone, but we have already attracted half a dozen members and have started to acquire some exceptional classics, which is exactly what we had in mind when a few of us first got together to discuss it.

Could it become a brand extension?

Track days, road trips, owners’ clubs… Yes, we hope to host all these, and we

are already planning the inaugural Lakes Classic Car Collection Rally.

What’s your relationship with cars over the years? Are you a keen driver? Is there a model/badge that always stops you in your tracks?

I’ve always been a great lover of design and technology, which I think come together in the beauty and heritage of classic cars. If I had to choose a favourite, it would have to be a Jaguar E-Type.

With sustainability in mind, are you thinking modern hybrid supercars? Or a bit of old-school classic guilty pleasure? There are lots of arguments around sustainability and cars. These classic cars are from a different era, they are virtually all museum pieces and will only be driven occasionally, not for our daily commute (as much as we may wish we could!). As such, they pose very little threat to the planet.

Obviously, these cars wouldn’t be driven on the estate – how do you envisage guests making the most of them?

They will be available to view and admire within the Lakes Classic Car Barn and for local driving around the beautiful Cotswolds.

If a car club proves attractive, are there other similar ideas that could further enrich the sense of community? It has always been our wish to encourage new experiences at The Lakes, primarily through outdoor experiences such as swimming, fishing, cycling, climbing, sailing and bushcraft. We are also keen to encourage learning and education with our conservation initiatives, sustainability goals, and more recently, with our farmyard and beehives. We have the growing Art Park, which is a cultural extension of these initiatives, and we hope that this outdoor live exhibition, together with the Classic Car Collection, will further enhance the overall experience for everyone on the estate.

Below The futuristic-looking Jaguar E-Type was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show of 1961

Right Today, the E-Type is still celebrated for its innovative engineering and exquisite design

When beauty met technology

There’s a good reason why John Hitchcox’s favourite classic is Jaguar’s achingly beautiful, game-changing sports car legend

In 1961, nobody drove as fast as 70mph. The first section of the M1 had only just opened, and most family cars would be stretched to the limit at such speeds. But the Jaguar E-Type, first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show of 1961, was capable of 150mph.

To the motoring world of the 1960s it may as well have been a space rocket – fitting, as the body was designed by former aeronautics engineer Malcolm Sayer. He created a shape described by Enzo Ferrari as ‘the most beautiful car ever made’.

The E-Type simply had no unflattering angle, no clumsy proportion. And for a car that looked so futuristic, it remains an enduring icon of automotive design 61 years later, one of only six cars in the collection of the New York City Museum of Modern Art.

The E-Type was also an innovator in its construction and engineering, pioneering independent suspension,

racing-style monocoque and subframe construction (when most cars were built on a ladder frame chassis), and disc brakes for every wheel.

Initially powered by the 3.8-litre straight-six engine from Jaguar’s previous XK, with 265bhp and a fourspeed manual gearbox, the E-Type lived up to its 150mph billing, averaging 150.4mph and 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds when tested by UK magazine Autocar The final iteration of the E-Type in 1971 featured a torque-rich 5.3-litre V12 engine, which served until 1975 when Jaguar, now part of British Leyland, replaced the E-Type with the XJ-S.

Aside from its looks and engineering provenance, there was one more ace up the E-Type’s sleeve: the price. In 1961, when an Aston Martin DB4 cost around £4,000 and a Ferrari 250GT nearer £6k, Jaguar asked just £2,160 for the E-Type roadster, and pennies more for the coupé. This car was not the sole

domain of the rich and famous – but the glitterati courted it all the same, with Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Tony Curtis and Donald Campbell among a long list of famous owners. Ironically, despite £2k being equivalent to around £46,000 at today’s prices, the E-Type’s affordability back in 1961 doesn’t quite translate to used prices in 2022. You’ll need around £200k for a clean Series 1, although the later models can be found for less than £100k, depending on condition. And values have risen again since Jaguar re-energised the E-Type bloodline by building six brand-new Lightweight E-Types in its classic workshop – completing a run of Special GTs that was begun, but never completed, in 1963.

Innovative engineering, exquisite design and a vision to be shared and enjoyed by all: no wonder John Hitchcox loves the Jaguar E-Type.