Gilbert House: Sales Brochure - Page 1 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
The Barbican Estate
Unlike many buildings of its style and era, the Barbican Estate’s flats were never designed as social housing, affordable to people on low incomes.
Andrewes House: Sales Brochure - Page 1/12 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
They were aimed at City workers, some of whom would have had second homes in the countryside.
Looking West Towards Tower Block 1Barbican Centre
The Barbican Estate
Look at the smartly dressed couple at the centre of this perspective drawing. Both are wearing smart hats – his is a bowler, a classic symbol of the City of London. He’s even paired it with a bow tie.
The Barbican Estate
Comparing it to the other maps, can you work out where they’re supposed to be walking?
Looking South Towards Block XIBarbican Centre
Looking South Towards Block XI
This drawing is titled Looking South Towards Block XI. That means these people are walking north. Maybe he’s taken his hat off and it’s the same people.
Looking South Towards Block XI
This drawing is titled Looking South Towards Block XI. That means these people are walking north. Maybe he’s taken his hat off and it’s the same people.
A wide range of promotional material was produced to convince people to move to this part of London: an unusual idea at the time.
The funniest example is probably this film, digitised by the London Metropolitan Archives, and featuring a loud potential resident.
