Description
A bright one-bedroom flat on the second floor of Ben Jonson House in the Grade II-listed Barbican Estate, known as a ‘Type F2C’ layout, was designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon. The is flat presented in excellent condition. The living space has full-width, full-height glazing with a sliding door opening to a south-facing balcony with fantastic views across the podium, towards the Barbican conservatory. The compact kitchen designed by Brooke Marine retains many of its original features, including the Creda hobs and Garchey waste disposal system. The double-bedroom benefits from original built-in storage and full-width glazing. The kitchen comes equipped with a washing machine and fridge-freezer. Residents also benefit from 24-hour car park attendants.

— The apartment is available from early August 2023 (min 9-month contract)
— Offered part-furnished (double bed, double sofa bed, chest of drawers, table/desk and large semi-built-in shelving unit).
— Rent is inclusive of underfloor heating

Area and transport
Ben Jonson House, completed in 1973, runs along the northern side of the Barbican. Residents have access to the private residents' gardens. The Barbican is well connected by transport, with several stations nearby including Barbican (Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan Lines), Moorgate and Old Street (Northern, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan Lines) underground stations and Farringdon station (with the new Elizabeth Line). The flat is within easy reach of plenty of bars and cafes in Clerkenwell or Shoreditch. As well as a nearby Waitrose supermarket, there is a fantastic independent grocery store, Geranium, at the bottom of Lauderdale Tower.

History
The Barbican Estate is one of the most radical post-war brutalist housing schemes ever realised. Standing on a site which had been devastated in the Blitz, the ‘Barbican area reconstruction plan’ was initially conceived in 1947. By the early 1950s, architects Chamberlin Powell and Bon, who were already working on the neighbouring Golden Lane Estate were selected to work on the masterplan to design a mixed scheme with housing for 330 people per acre. By 1956 the scheme had taken shape and incorporated a school, leisure and cultural facilities, shops and a mix of low-rise residential blocks and Europe's tallest towers. Pedestrian walkways, formal residents’ gardens reminiscent of Georgian squares, and a picturesque lake complete with a striking waterfall and fountains — all at varying levels — create order without monotony. Pedestrians are elevated onto highwalks (the podium), separating them from the dangers and noise of the traffic below.

It was originally thought to clad the buildings with marble but later rejected in favour of pick hammered raw concrete — giving the buildings a solid and unified look, visually similar to Crescent House in Golden Lane Estate, an earlier scheme by CP&B. Semi-engineered brick is also used below the podium level to echo the materials of the buildings that had previously stood there.

A total of 2,113 flats of housing for 6,500 people was built, aimed at middle- to high-income residents. The majority of the housing is either one or two bedrooms aimed at young single people. To attract these potential wealthy residents, car parking for 2,500 cars, district underfloor heating, Garchey refuse disposal systems and a theatre were all incorporated into the design. Internally the spaces were designed to be luxurious, well-built with quality fixtures, lots of light and space, often utilising double-height ceilings and full-height picture windows leading out to terraces or balconies. The Barbican Centre, one of Europe’s biggest art centres was officially opened by the Queen in 1982. The Barbican was given Grade II listed status in 2001.

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