Skip to content
BARBICAN LIVING
The Barbican Estate in the City of London. How it came about. How it is today.
Menu
Conception
The dramatic Barbican story
History of the Barbican area
Timeline 1940 – 1959
Fascinating facts
Chamberlin Powell & Bon
Chamberlin Powell & Bon’s story
Peter Chamberlin
Geoffry Powell
Christof Bon
Barbican estate project
City machinations
Brutalists or Modernists?
Other main players
Eric Wilkins
City of London committees
Ove Arup
G H Buckle and Partners
Davis Belfield and Everest
London County Council
Ministry of Housing and Local Government
The residential scheme
1955 scheme
1956 scheme
1958 scheme
1959 scheme
Changes after 1959
Precursors
The Abercrombie plan
The Forty plan
The Holden-Holford plan
The Kadleigh plan
The Martin-Mealand plan
Golden Lane Estate
Influences
The Adelphi
Hans Bernoulli
European cities
London squares
Modernism
Brutalism
Le Courbusier
Ideas
Traffic segregation
Making space
Rounded forms
Rough concrete finish
Flexible flat design
High-walks
Decisions
Residential vs commercial
Including north Barbican
The road in a box
Shops, pubs, and restaurants
Garages
The mix of flats
Construction
Construction timeline
Fascinating facts
The construction team
Contractors
Subcontractors
Suppliers
The construction phases
Site preparation
The building site
Cutting railways
Old sewers
Infrastructure
Refuse disposal
The Garchey system
Underfloor heating
Water
Roads and parking
Buildings
Foundations
Structure of buildings
Below podium
Finishes
Hammered concrete finish
Bricks and tiles
Signage
Roof finishes
The terrace blocks
Terrace blocks
Front-to-back flats
Side-to-side flats
Up-and-over flats
Clusters of flats
Room layouts of flats
Cross wall construction
Terrace balconies
The towers
The towers
Triangular shape
Flat design
Public and open areas
The podium
Landscaping
Public services building
Now
Timeline since 1975
Fascinating facts
Who are Barbican residents?
Gardens
Lakes
How the estate is run
Nearby
Blocks
Maps of the estate
Compare the blocks
Andrewes House
Ben Jonson House
Blake Tower
Brandon Mews
Breton House
Bryer Court
Bunyan Court
Cromwell Tower
Defoe House
Frobisher Crescent
Gilbert House
John Trundle Court
Lambert Jones Mews
Lauderdale Tower
Mountjoy House
The Postern
Seddon House
Shakespeare Tower
Speed House
Thomas More House
Wallside
Willoughby House
Flats
Flat plans & flat types
Inside your flat
Kitchen
Bathroom
Doors
Entry phone
Floors
Storage
The Barbican hand basin
Windows
Balconies
Services to your flat
Electricity
Water
Heating
Ventilation
Television
Garchey
Lifts
Rubbish
Staff
Buying a flat
The best solicitors
Best estate agents for buyers
Choosing the right flat
Unapproved alterations
FAQs for buyers
Service charges
Help and information
Buy to let
Selling your flat
The best estate agents
Nicola Lee
Frank Harris & Company
Hamilton Brooks
Scott City
A W Childs
The best solicitors
Living here
People who can help you
Places to go
Flat cleaning
Making alterations
Cars and bikes
Storing stuff
Barbican Giving
ChatGPT
Up and running!
