The Barbican Estate is London's most treasured piece of Sixties brutalist architecture. Originally built on a 40 acre bombsite on the edge of the Square Mile, its grand grey towers and labyrinth of walkways are as famous as its reputation as a cultural hub.
Whilst art lovers flock to the Barbican Centre for its gallery shows, concerts, and films, the estate has long appealed to young professionals and families who perceive it as a friendly fortress in the heart of the capital.
One of the Barbican’s most distinctive buildings is Blake Tower, designed in 1968 by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon. After functioning as a YMCA for several years, the building became vacant and Conran and Partners, an award-winning design studio, took over the space and transformed it into 74 luxury residences.
Project director Simon Kincaid said, ‘The biggest challenge was to develop an authentic and considered design scheme which respects and references the architectural shell and the context of the Barbican as well as providing a new collection of apartments with their own identity, personality and modern specification.’
‘Exposed concrete features throughout, but we’ve drawn inspiration from the successful softening of the external public spaces with established greenery and landscape,’ said associate interior designer Brooke Lloyd.
Now, a spectacular interior designed apartment in this tower is on the market with Dexters. Featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the 1,700 sq. ft flat has an open plan design with a neutral colour palette that’s complemented with bursts of colour from its furniture.
The living room receives plenty of light thanks to a wall of windows that offers uninterrupted views of the London city skyline. The adjoining kitchen has a contemporary design with pale grey cabinets and white tiled floors, while a ten person dining table opposite would be ideal for entertaining.
While all three bedrooms are well sized, the principal bedroom suite has its own bathroom with twin sinks, a bathtub and a shower. Skylights and wall-to-wall windows make the space feel bright and open, while a set of wardrobes and integrated cabinets provide lots of room for storage.
‘This property not only offers wonderful interiors, but it’s also close to fantastic amenities such as the Barbican Centre, Museum of London and the trendy bars and shops of Shoreditch,’ says Ricky Chan Lettings Director of Dexters Clerkenwell.
‘Within the estate, there are lots of fantastic restaurants such as Osteria, a modern Italian restaurant, and for those looking for easy access to the rest of the city, Barbican, Farrington, Moorgate and St Paul’s tube stations are all less than half a mile away.’
