The Barbican Apartment
Featured in Elle Decoration
Transforming a Barbican Apartment into a Modern Sanctuary
Nestled in the heart of London’s Barbican estate sits a four-bedroom apartment within the Barbican’s Lauderdale Tower, lovingly referred to as an urban castle with brutalist architecture. In what is one of the city’s most iconic brutalist landmarks, the apartment has an enviable wraparound terrace with breathtaking views of St Paul’s, the Barbican Gardens, and the City. Our design studio was challenged by the client to soften and modernise the space and help transform it into our client’s sanctuary away from city life and a welcoming space for them to entertain.
Working within the constraints of a Grade II listed building and the Barbican estate regulations, provided its challenges. Through our design our approach called on the rich materiality of the Barbican to give the home a new era, which felt clean and contemporary but also true to the wonderful heritage of the space.
Throughout the renovation process of the Barbican apartment, we were guided by a deep respect for the unique detailing of the space. We retained and repurposed original features such as the stepped kitchen wall unit design and use of stainless steel, collaborating with GEC Anderson, the original installer of the Barbican’s stainless steel worktops for a new imagining of the kitchen.
Design Approach and Inspiration
The renovation focused on enhancing the apartment’s identity rather than making any major structural changes. Within the living space, we opened up the living area to create a versatile space to use for both relaxation and work, and introduced bold colours and forms to create focal points to help guide the flow of the space.
The bedrooms were designed to be a cocoon of calm with soft plaster pink and pastel tones, a stark but complementary contrast to the Barbican’s surrounding brutalist architecture and a serene escape from the city.
The original galley-style kitchen, designed by Brooke Marine, was reimagined to blend functionality with warmth. We retained the stepped wall unit design and introduced Sapele cabinetry to complement the use of minimal white laminate and stainless steel. The bathrooms, previously adapted in the 80s and 90s, were given a modern update with a mix of square white tiles evoking the original design and new coloured terrazzo, a gentle balance of authenticity with modern warmth.
“As you spend time there, you note what a peaceful place it is to live - such a central location, but with such serenity. That juxtaposition is quite beautiful and really set the tone for what we wanted to create - a very considered balance.”
Andrew Jonathan Griffiths, Director of A NEW DAY Studio
About The Barbican
The Barbican is more than just an iconic piece of London’s architectural history; it’s a vibrant cultural hub that effortlessly blends the past with the present. Designed in the 1960sand completed in the 1970s, the Barbican Estate stands as a testament to visionary modernist design. With its distinctive raw concrete and bold geometric forms, it’s a place that invites both admiration and introspection. The estate also houses the world-renowned Barbican Centre, a leading arts and learning centre that offers an eclectic mix of music, theatre, dance, film, and visual arts. It’s safe to say that being a resident within The Barbican means being immersed in a dynamic cultural scene, where inspiration is never faraway.
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We welcome enquiries for projects in the UK and beyond, and will happily make time to chat about how we could help you.