The Fantastic Barbican World

Nice little exhibition at the Barbican looking at the design of the flats in the Barbican Centre.

I was astonished to learn that more than half the population of the City of London lives in the Barbican. The architects Chamberlain, Powell and Bon recognised the need for different forms of living and there are more than 100 different types of flats in three towers and 17 designs of terraces houses. One of the aims of the project had been to get people back to living in the City after the war.

The display included floor plans of the different types of flat alongside photographs of how people had adapted them. There were also models of the various types on internal and external staircases. Since 2001 any changes need to get listed building consent so it has become harder to adapt the space. I particularly fell for a flat with upside down arched windows!

Closes on 16 April 2017

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