The Barbican Estate

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first residents moving into the Barbican Estate in London. This new book is a celebration of this unique complex, looking at the design of the individual flats as well as its status as a brutalist icon. The Barbican Estate by Stefi Orazi and Christoffer Rudquist offers a compelling insight as author and designer Stefi Orazi interviews residents past and present, shedding light on how life on the estate has evolved over the decades.

The complex, designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, is now Grade II listed and is one of the world's most well-known examples of brutalist architecture. Its three towers - Cromwell, Shakespeare, and Lauderdale - are among London's tallest residential spaces, making the estate an iconic landmark of the city. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide to the estate includes newly commissioned photography by Christoffer Rudquist. It details each of the 100 different flat types, featuring newly drawn plans of the flats as well as original plans and maps.

The book includes fascinating texts by leading architects and design critics. John Allan of Avanti Architects delves into the unique building materials and fittings of the flats, while Charles Holland of Charles Holland Architects (and FAT co-founder) discusses how these concrete towers have become such an integral part of Britain's domestic and architectural history.