Thomas More House IV, Barbican, London EC2

This bright ‘Type 21’ two-bedroom apartment lies on the fifth floor of Thomas More House, which runs along the southern side of Chamberlain, Powell and Bon's Barbican estate. Arranged across a vertical north-south axis, the apartment opens onto a generous balcony with spectacular views over the surrounding cityscape and St Paul’s Cathedral beyond. Sensitively renovated by the current owners with a selection of considered bespoke additions and a striking colour palette, the interiors retain many of the original features that are synonymous with the Barbican’s iconic architecture.



The Architect



In 1951 the City of London ran a competition for architects to submit plans for a scheme to replace buildings destroyed by a night of bombing in December 1940. The proposal was to be called the Golden Lane Estate. Peter Chamberlin, Geoffrey Powell and Christoph Bon all submitted plans and agreed that if one of their practices won, they would form a partnership and work together on the project. Powell won the competition, and thus Chamberlin, Powell & Bon was formed in 1952. After their success with the Golden Lane Estate, the firm was asked to design the Barbican Estate, now London’s most iconic brutalist complex. For more information, see the History section below.



The Tour



Running along the south of the residents' garden, with the eastern end abutting Mountjoy House, Thomas More has seven storeys of apartments above podium level and three below. This apartment is positioned on the 5th floor above podium level, to which there is both lift and stair access.



The apartment's front door opens to a bright hall, which accommodates a bespoke foldout office bureau. The apartment, arranged vertically across a north-south axis, has been carefully renovated by the current owners in keeping with the distinctive character of the building. Handcrafted joinery additions sit alongside well-maintained original features, while carpeted floors in a bold, purple hue provide cohesion throughout.



At the front, an open-plan living and dining room is oriented toward the south, where expansive glazing in original wood frames gives way to undisturbed views toward St Paul’s Cathedral. Here, crisp white walls enhance the impression of spaciousness.



Tucked slightly back and arranged with a galley-style configuration is a bespoke, semi-open kitchen. Here, white base and wall-mounted units are topped with green Pyrolave, volcanic lava stone surfaces and a brass splashback. An integrated breakfast bar overlooks the dining area and the city's architecture beyond; integrated appliances include induction hob and dual oven, dishwasher and washing machine. Vinyl floors in dark tones by Amtico extend underfoot.



The hallway unfolds toward the rear, where two quiet and private bedrooms overlook the Barbican gardens on the northern aspect, both complete with bespoke joinery and ceiling-height fitted cupboards. The principal bedroom is well-appointed with ‘Japanese Garden’ wallpaper by Osborne & Little; the second bedroom currently serves as a spacious home office, fitted with rows of built-in shelves.



Accessible from the hall is a shared bathroom, clad in white tiles with mosaic tiled detailing and fitted with a large Bette bathtub with copper panelling and a contemporary hand wash basin by Azzurra. Next door is a separate WC room, with yellow painted walls and an original Barbican sink.



Outdoor Space



The apartment has a balcony on the southern aspects with views towards St Paul's and space for outdoor seating.



One of the principal intents of the original plan of the Barbican was to provide an enclosed sanctuary for the estate’s residents. In the estate, both public and private outdoor spaces are concentrated centrally, and residents have access to a number of both private and public gardens.



The principal private gardens extend to approximately two and a half acres and are sited at the eastern and western ends of the Barbican lake, extending to over one and a half acres. These gardens are laid out in a naturalistic manner with expansive lawns punctuated by the cover of foliage from various species of mature trees and surrounded by rich and textural borders planted with both native and exotic species. This whole ensemble makes for a tranquil and secluded retreat in the heart of the city, and this resource is often seen as one of the most unexpected but cherished aspects of life in the Barbican.



There are dedicated areas for children’s play along with various architectural follies, including a brutalist waterfall and a sunken garden and seating area set within the lake.



The Area



The Barbican Centre is on the doorstep and home to 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 also 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 programme 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, Brutto, Cloth and Exmouth Market. Whitecross Street is nearby and hosts a food market every weekday. St Paul’s Cathedral, 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. 171 years remaning / Service Charge: approx. £6560 per annum / Ground Rent: approx. £10 per annum / Council Tax Band: E