Thomas More House: Sales Brochure - Page 9/12 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
Interior Design
The Barbican Estates Office published leaflets helping people imagine how they might furnish their flat if they moved in. They even imagined the types of resident who would live in each type of flat.
Flat 1 Type 21 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
Flat 1 Type 21
This leaflet imagines that the residents of this flat type are 'a young executive and his wife and the wife's younger sister'.
Flat 1 Type 21
This imagined couple and their guest were given suggestions of where they might get everything: smart, quality goods, but not as expensive as some of the other households.
Thomas More House: Sales Brochure - Page 9/12 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
Interior Design
The way in which the flats were furnished tells us a lot about who the Barbican Estate flats were marketed at. The target audience was mainly city workers who wanted to do away with their commute.
Flat 2 Type 20 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
Flat 2 Type 20
The interior design of this flat is aimed at 'an intellectual couple interested in the arts'.
Flat 2 Type 20
Perhaps this couple moved to the Estate because of the attached Arts Centre. Here, they're imagined buying musical instruments, contemporary pottery, books, records and pictures to fuel their interests.
Thomas More House: Sales Brochure - Page 9/12 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
Flat Types 20 and 21
Here you can see an example of a decorated Type 20 living room and a Type 21 study.
Flat Types 20 and 21
Here you can see an example of a decorated Type 20 living room and a Type 21 study.
Flat. Type 85 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
Flat 3 Type 85
This flat is imagined for 'a merchant banker and his wife who frequently play host to their international friends and business colleagues'.
Flat 3 Type 85
This flat is the most expensively furnished: the merchant banker would be the wealthiest of the three imagined households. Even then, they're imagined as renting their TV set, as most people would at the time.
The sitting room and office area in a show flat at the Barbican Estate, City of London (1968-10-04) by John Laing and Son LtdHistoric England
Flat Type 85
Here is an example of a furnished Type 85 flat - a show flat in Speed House.
Flat Type 85
It has plenty of space for the resident 'merchant banker' to work and entertain guests.
