Cover A cosy London pied-à-terre within the romantic surroundings of the homeowners’ favourite brutalist inner city
A cosy London pied-à-terre within the romantic surroundings of the homeowners’ favourite brutalist inner city
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Black & Milk honours the site’s architectural heritage while blending modern minimalism with contemporary functionality
Designed by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the Barbican Estate represents a utopian vision of urban living that was characteristic of mid-20th century modernist architecture.
Formerly an area in Central London left devastated by bombing during the Second World War, the Barbican flourished after its completion in the 1970s, and became a celebrated example of architectural heritage which the late Queen Elizabeth described as “one of the modern wonders of the world.”
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Above Olga Alexeeva, creative director of Black & Milk
Olga Alexeeva, creative director of Black & Milk
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The Barbican Estate has been designated as a Grade II listed building since 2001, and today, comprises a mix of residential, cultural, and public spaces, constructed primarily of raw concrete (béton brut).
The mix-used development includes Gilbert House from the late-1960s, where a couple who recently retired own one of the ‘Type 71’ units in the apartment complex, featuring an L-shaped layout plan, and a running balcony that overlooks the Barbican Lake and St Giles Church.
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Measuring at a compact yet perfectly proportioned 775 sq ft, the apartment features an open-plan dining and living area with a sense of spaciousness despite its modest size.
The unit also consists of a semi-detached kitchen that provides a distinct separation in the space without closing off the flow of the apartment, while also accommodating a separate bedroom, bathroom, and a small laundry room–a rarity for a London pied-à-terre of this size.
Above A minimalist touch that maintains the 20th-century character of the apartment
A minimalist touch that maintains the 20th-century character of the apartment
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“The client and his wife expressed their desire for a cosy pied-à-terre in London, where they could relax and enjoy the city to the fullest,” shares Olga Alexeeva, creative director of the award-winning design studio Black & Milk commissioned to assist with the renovations.
“They wanted the design to respect the original brutalist architecture of the building, focusing on the integrity of the space while incorporating mid-century modern elements” she adds. “This vision resonated with us as we both valued preserving the character of the original 1970s design, while adding contemporary functionality to spaces that feel warm and lived-in despite their modernity.”
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Above The wall panelling and upholstered sections hide the wiring for the wall lights
Above Contemporary interventions contribute to a serene, welcoming environment
The wall panelling and upholstered sections hide the wiring for the wall lights
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To ensure the space is “not just a throwback to the ‘70s,” Alexeeva and her team spent a lot of time researching the architects’ vision of the original Barbican apartments, pouring through books, and visiting the development to absorb the inspiring colour, shapes, and materials of the communal spaces.
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“Surprisingly, there wasn’t much information online, so we relied on older sources for insights, helping us stay true to the original concept while adding our own creative touches,” she says.
“We also drew heavily from mid-century modern furniture designers and architects with a particular focus on the Bauhaus style–all of which aligned with the principles of functionality and simplicity we were aiming to capture.”
Above The bespoke television cabinet with thoughtful integration of function and form
Above Coloured glass sliding doors to conceal the TV while also showcase display items
The bespoke television cabinet with thoughtful integration of function and form
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Granted, the project comes with its challenges, the most significant being the restrictions imposed by the building’s Grade II-listed status. However, Black & Milk had experience tackling spatial challenges with substance and refinement through modern design, and the redesign of this apartment is no exception.
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Whilst maintaining the historic floor plan, a strategic approach was implemented within the spatial configuration of the apartment.
“As there are limitations to what can be removed structurally, the open-plan living area flooring was intentionally divided with oak wood and bespoke olive green leather tiles to distinguish the living and dining spaces whilst also providing functionality,” Alexeeva elaborates.
Above The open-plan living and dining areas with a sense of spaciousness despite its modest size
The open-plan living and dining areas with a sense of spaciousness despite its modest size
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Furthermore, the team had to adhere to strict rules that prevented them from chasing into the concrete walls and ceilings, which greatly limited the integration of modern lighting systems.
To overcome this, wall panelling and upholstered sections were utilised to hide the wiring for the wall lights, keeping the ceiling lights connected to the existing central power source.
“We also introduced track lighting in the kitchen to make the most of a single power point,” the creative director adds. “Additionally, we placed great emphasis on using loose, ambient lamps throughout the apartment to create a layered lighting scheme without breaking any structural rules.”
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Above The intimate dining area
Above Every detail fits perfectly into place
The intimate dining area
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In order to create an atmosphere that felt tailored and sophisticated yet warm and inviting, the design team focused on elements that evoke calm and comfort. With a minimalist touch that maintains the 20th-century character of the apartment, the interior space is frozen in time with pink fabric walls and bright pops of green paint.
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Meanwhile contemporary interventions and mod-cons contribute to a serene, welcoming environment, resulting in “a flat that feels magical as soon as you step inside, where every detail fits perfectly into place.”
“We used finishes and materials that paid homage to the original development but added touches like functional built-ins, contemporary lighting, and a thoughtful layout to make the space more practical for modern living,” Alexeeva explains.
Above The bespoke kitchenette pays tribute to the original characteristics of the Brutalist apartment
The bespoke kitchenette pays tribute to the original characteristics of the Brutalist apartment
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This includes the bespoke television cabinet in the living area, one of the team’s favourite features for the project that stands out with its thoughtful integration of function and form.
“We didn’t want the TV to dominate the living room, so we designed a set of light, textured, coloured glass sliding doors to conceal the TV when it wasn’t in use,” Alexeeva clarifies. “The doors not only hide the TV but also allow for a transparent view of display items on either side, maintaining the visual flow of the room.”
LED lighting was also added to enhance the cabinet’s glow in the evening, while the stainless steel behind the unit ties the cabinet with the kitchen materials, reinforcing the mid-century aesthetic.
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Above Enriched with modern interventions and eco-friendly materials
Above Seamless connection throughout the L-shaped apartment
Enriched with modern interventions and eco-friendly materials
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Paying tribute to the original characteristics of the Brutalist apartment, the team infused a new eclectic aesthetic for the bespoke kitchenette, enriched with modern interventions and eco-friendly materials, like paperstone, steel, and coloured textured glass.
While the team was committed to using rare materials, they required careful coordination to fit the historical context. For example, a contrasting fibreglass finish was used for the sliding upper cabinet storage, and the decor remained clean and simple, based on craft and the original design’s modernist approach.
“The extractor fan was particularly tricky due to restrictions on relocating the vent, so instead of hiding the ventilation, we made a bold feature of the visible steel pipe, celebrating its brutalist aesthetic,” Alexeeva divulges.
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Above The bathroom updated with contemporary functionality
Above The bedroom feels warm and lived-in despite their modernity
The bathroom updated with contemporary functionality
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The creative director also shares that one of the most rewarding moments came after the project was completed, and the homeowners had settled in.
“James, the client, who is a huge fan of the Barbican, found a rare article by the original architect of the development, with photos and drawings of the Barbican apartments from the 1970s,” Alexeeva says. “To our mutual surprise, many of the details were strikingly similar to what we had created. One photo, in particular, almost exactly mirrored the functional zoning and design choices we had made.”
“It was incredibly gratifying to realise that our design had so authentically captured the spirit of the original architecture,” she concludes.
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Credits
Photography: Black & Milk
Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
