That article is classic worth rereading. In my view, lava layer antipattern is lack of architecture. A situation like this could helped by assinging single rol

That article is classic worth rereading. In my view, lava layer antipattern is lack of architecture. A situation like this could helped by assinging single role to make architectural decisions and maintaining documents describing them. Another aspect is despite good intentions, an urge to use newest techniques and disregard for bigger picture signals lack of seniority. Everyone loves to use latest tech, but it takes courage, experience and confidence to slowly improve big project without using "latest and gratest". You need someone really experienced in charge to do that.