Barbican Living
Type 56
The flats at either end of Defoe House, overlooking the Barbican Tube Station or the Barbican Centre, are either Type 56 or Type 54 flats. Because they are at the end of the terrace, these flats each have a flank wall with windows, as well as the usual front and back windows. This allows for extra living space. The flats of the two types are very similar - the chief difference is that the main bedroom of a Type 56 is 3 feet wider than the corresponding bedroom in a Type 54. The living room is in the centre with windows in the terrace's end wall, looking out over either Smithfield or the Barbican Centre terrace. On either side of the living room, taking in the corners of the terrace, there are bedrooms. There's a third bedroom behind one corner bedroom and a dining area behind the other.
In all there are 5 Type 56s and 6 Type 54s, which alternate at each level. The odd number of flats is probably due to the fact that the flats at the Smithfield end start at the 2nd floor to accommodate the steps up to the north podium level.
Tom Mann who lives in one of the Type 56s very kindly corrected my earlier inaccurate entry on this flat type!
