Bunyan Court II, London EC2Y

This beautiful two-bedroom penthouse apartment unfolds across three storeys in the Barbican’s Grade II-listed Bunyan Court. It has seen impeccable interventions by architect Ana Sutherland, who has masterfully employed stainless steel and warm oak in response to the estate's mid-century bones. The 'Type M3A' arrangement of the apartment provides a generous amount of outdoor space, with two balconies positioned on either side of the living area.

The Estate

Chamberlin, Powell and Bon designed the Barbican Estate after their success with the neighbouring Golden Lane Estate. Built to replace the buildings destroyed by a night of bombing in December 1940, the Barbican is now lauded as a masterpiece of brutalist architecture. For more information, see the History section.

The Tour

The apartment begins on the fifth floor of Bunyan Court and is accessed via an original open-tread mahogany staircase that ascends through the building. A Hand and Eye pendant hangs in the entrance hall, establishing the artistic overtones that ripple throughout the apartment. Engineered oak flooring extends from the hall into the entrance-level bedroom.

Timber-framed pivot-hinged casement windows fill the rooms with light and offer views over the Barbican's brutalist surroundings. Each bedroom has generous cupboard space. Sleek Ellevi by LEMA wardrobes have compass-opening systems, leaving no protrusions or recesses. The effect is one of a smart, modernist subtlety.

The bathroom is lit by original BTC 'Hector' lights. The cabinetry here is chestnut-panelled and there is a Michelangelo marble bath with matching sink. Forbo Marmoleum runs underfoot.

An original mahogany staircase rises to the apartment's second level, interlaced with a black triple handrail for a remarkably sculptural effect.

From here, a living room extends from one side and an open-plan kitchen/ dining space from the other. Ana Sutherland of studio Francisco Sutherland has introduced strips of oak cabinetry in the dining area, which level out into wide cupboards in the kitchen, complemented by stainless steel worktops. The kitchen is fully serviced with unfussy, integrated Bosch appliances. This meticulous but inviting space is oriented towards full-length glazed doors that open onto another private balcony.

The living room is similarly oriented to maximise the quality of natural light, with glazed doors stretching the length of the rear wall and opening to a balcony beyond. Another Hand & Eye pendant hangs from the ceiling, and there is ample room for seating.

A bedroom with a barrel-vaulted double-height ceiling sits another level up, and is lit by full-width and height windows. The room features TinTab oak upper panelling and storage cabinetry that follows the curve of the ceiling. The cabinetry in the upper-floor showeroom is in keeping with that of the bedroom and is fitted with a walk-in shower and W/C.

There is a mezzanine level above the bedroom reached by an exquisite TinTab staircase with oak handrails. The use of timber is again deft, with oak shutters that open to fan out over the bedroom below. Known as the 'Treehouse' to its current owners, this space would make an ideal study illuminated by its Fresnel reading light, or a tranquil yoga studio.

Car parking spaces are available by separate negotiation.

Outdoor Space

Balconies sit on either end of the living spaces, offering two vantage points to sit throughout the day while adding a wonderful sense of extension to the internal plan.

The Area

The Barbican Arts Centre is on its residents' doorstep and houses a theatre, an art gallery, a concert venue, cinemas, and several bars and cafés. The City of London has also recently appointed Allies and Morrison Architects and Asif Khan Studio to deliver a multi-million-pound renewal of the Barbican Centre. The Centre forms a key part of the ‘Culture Mile’, the City of London’s cultural district stretching from Farringdon to Moorgate. The ‘Cultural Mile’ includes the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London. It provides a vibrant and creative area with a diverse and international cultural program of concerts, events, and performances.

The apartment is near an excellent selection of pubs and restaurants, including the nearby Smithfield Market, St. John, Luca, The Quality Chop House, and Exmouth Market. Whitecross Street also has a food market every weekday. St Paul’s, the River Thames, the South Bank and Tate Modern are all close by.

Transport links are excellent, with Underground stations at nearby Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines), Old Street (Northern Line), and Moorgate (Northern, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan Lines). Farringdon Station offers a host of Underground lines (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Elizabeth Lines) as well as Thameslink services to Gatwick Airport, Brighton and Bedford.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 172 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £11,400 per annum (this includes heating, lift maintenance, external window cleaning, 24/7 concierge service, building insurance, cleaning and maintenance of the communal gardens and grounds)
Ground Rent: £10 per annum
Council Tax Band: F (City of London)