With stunning views across the London skyline, the seventh, eighth and ninth floors of Frobisher Crescent, the former home of the City University Business School, have been converted into 69 studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments.
The former office space has been redesigned by TP Bennett Architects, with a contemporary twist to the award-winning 1960s architecture of the Grade II listed building. Frobisher Crescent forms part of the Barbican Arts and Conference Centre, which lies at the heart of the Barbican estate.
The launch of Frobisher Crescent will be the first major opportunity to buy at the Barbican since 1982, when the City of London offered homes for sale.
Sleek white lacquered kitchens, oak floors, bespoke retro bathrooms with oversized tiles, chrome light fittings, ceilings with ‘shadow gaps' and cabling for digital home systems are all elements included in these new apartments, developed by United House Developments.
The apartments on the top floor have the distinctive ‘barrel' arched roof synonymous with the Barbican, creating an extra mezzanine level. All of them have private balcony space, which runs along the entire length of the building with the two end apartments on each level benefitting from wrap-around terraces.
The Barbican development was designed by architects Chamberlain, Powell and Bon in a Brutalist style, influenced by the work of architect Le Corbusier. It comprises a complex multi-level layout with numerous entrances to the arts complex and stepped residential towers. In 2001 it was announced that the Barbican complex was to be a Grade II listed building and was designated a site of special architectural interest in recognition of the scale, cohesion and the ambition of the project.
When Frobisher Crescent was originally designed, the intended use of the higher levels was for residential apartments. However, this initial idea was never implemented and instead the entire nine floor block was used as office and educational space. Demand for commercial and residential space has since changed, and following a competitive tendering process, United House Developments began works onsite in August 2008.
Antony Crovella of United House Developments explains: 'Frobisher Crescent is one of those very rare opportunities to buy a unique and iconic property. The City of London and the Barbican in particular is a hugely desirable place to live, more so now than ever, and we are sure that the care and attention to detail to ensure the original features of the architecture and design were retained will give the development even more appeal. Because it is a listed building, we have replicated the main design principles in the Barbican. Any aspect of the original building, such as the timber window screens, for example, have been copied and reinstated as an exact match.'
Prices start from £380,000 for the studio apartments up to £1.87 million for a three-bedroom duplex on the top floor, with wrap-around terrace and barrel-vaulted triple height ceilings. Through Chesterton on 020 7288 0330 or Hamilton Brooks on 020 7606 8000.
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