Restoring a Barbican Apartment
It was nothing short of a dream come true when Mariana and Adam approached us to restore their Barbican apartment. A testament to detail-driven design, the Brutalist estate is Grade II listed and an honourable backdrop for a House of Lozi project.
In need of a new kitchen, wardrobe interiors, vinyl storage and a media unit, Mariana & Adam wanted to work with a company that understood and appreciated the essence of the Barbican. Wherever possible, they were keen to preserve original features within the designs, from light switches and door handles to the kitchen sink; a celebration of the Barbican’s heritage. And that’s where we came in.
In the living room, Mariana & Adam were after a multi-functional media unit to house not only their TV, but also a cherished record player and sound system. We custom-made the sideboard to each speaker’s exact dimensions, making sure the surface top would be flush with the top of the record player. The main challenge was to hide the wires, creating a fuss-free, minimalist look and feel.
By suspending the piece from the wall, we kept the concrete floor exposed underneath, helping to create more space. And perhaps our favourite touch - adding handles from an old storage cupboard within the apartment. We cleaned and polished each signature, circular handle, adding 50 years of history to a piece of Lozi furniture.
Being an avid collector of records, Adam needed somewhere to store his vinyls, and an alcove by the front door proved to be an ideal location. The only catch - the intercom system handset was located within this space, as well as an electrical power unit that they occasionally needed to access.
We chose to highlight and frame the intercom telephone and designed three horizontal shelving modules, resting atop shoe storage and an easy-access cupboard for the power supply. When stacked in such a volume, records become extremely heavy. Therefore, we placed the modules on top of each other, automatically doubling the thickness (and increasing the strength) of the shelves.
Mariana & Adam were keen to retain the layout of their original Barbican kitchen, with the addition of new integrated appliances such as an oven, fridge freezer and washing machine. This was a challenge that we really got our teeth stuck into, as we found each cupboard had been built specifically for the Barbican building and was slightly shorter and shallower than a standard kitchen. We altered each of our cabinet designs, bringing a whole new level of customisation to the project.
Being a compact kitchen, it was vital that we made the best use of the space while retaining its history. We added more drawers and replaced the bulkhead electrics with a new switch in its original position. All the while, working around numerous pipes, wires and the ventilation system which are all protected within the building’s Grade II listing.
Wanting to retain the original Barbican sink, Mariana & Adam repolished the surface and installed induction hobs. Above this panel we added reeded glass doors and our signature corrugated cupboards. It was important to all of us that we kept the kitchen white and reused the round handle shape, paying homage to the choices of the Barbican’s designers.
In the principal bedroom, our job was to create a storage system for Mariana’s clothes to sit behind the original Barbican wardrobe doors. A combination of drawers, hanging space, shoe storage and a laundry basket, we designed a unit that slots perfectly into the wardrobe space. The piece is completely freestanding, meaning we kept the wall free of any unnecessary holes and fittings. We left a generous open space at the top for suitcases and larger items which can be a hassle to store. Not only a functional mirror, the central piece also covers an access panel for pipework, with a rail above for Mariana to hang her colourful scarves.
In the second bedroom / work-from-home space, we created a place to store Adam’s clothes, as well as a bespoke shelving unit for his vast collection of board games. We once again used a double layer of plywood to take the weight of the games, with an adjustable peg system so each shelf can move up and down.
Creating a House of Lozi home within the Barbican has truly been a bucket list project. Working alongside the apartment’s original features was a challenge that we eagerly accepted, knowing how much we would learn and absorb from the Barbican’s designers and architects along the way. Mariana & Adam’s home is now ready for decades more of living, using materials and design choices that we hope only reinforce and celebrate the soul of the Barbican.
Additional Information
Designs:
Before Pictures:
The original Barbican entryway storage and kitchen
Principal bedroom wardrobe
Second bedroom wardrobes
Entryway / record storage
Media unit / record storage
Location Images:
View from Mariana & Adam's apartment overlooking the central pools of the estate
Curves of the Barbican
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Please find our guided pricing here
Each project varies depending on the size of your home, the complexity of the design and your choice of materials and finishes.
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Kitchen: all new cabinets + reeded glass.
Wardrobes: internal freestanding wooden wardrobes.
Sideboard: sideboard + repurposing the original round handles + fittings.
Record storage: fully-fitted cabinets and shelves + repurposing the original round handles.
Design, manufacturing, delivery and installation.
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Removal of existing kitchen cabinets | original Barbican wardrobe doors | removal of existing entryway storage cabinets| sink | appliances | electrics | plumbing | any other home accessories shown
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After submitting your enquiry and confirming a quote that suits your budget, you'll be allocated one of our highly skilled designer-makers and they will schedule a site visit, where relevant. Based on your requirements and personal style, we'll provide a digital 2-D design to visualise the project outcome. Your designer-maker will ensure the experience is stress-free, supporting important design decisions and providing tailored, design-led solutions. All Lozi furniture is then made in-house and if appropriate, carefully installed by the designer-maker and workshop team.
Click here for a full breakdown of each stage.