“Broad glazing sets the Barbican Estate as a backdrop to day-to-day life”
On the second floor of the iconic Barbican Estate’s Ben Jonson House, this beautifully presented one-bedroom apartment is a smart retreat in heart of the City. Much of its original ‘Type F2C’ plan has been retained, from the nautical kitchen and neat bathroom with original fixtures. South-facing windows with pretty window boxes frame views of pedestrianised Ben Jonson Place and the upswept balconies of Cromwell Tower.
The Estate
Chamberlin, Powell and Bon designed the Barbican Estate after their success with the neighbouring Golden Lane Estate. Built to replace the buildings destroyed by a night of bombing in December 1940, the Barbican is now lauded as a masterpiece of brutalist architecture. Ben Jonson House is on the north podium of the estate and is the longest terrace block in the Barbican, comprising seven storeys of two-floor maisonettes. For more information, see the History section.
The Tour
Evocatively preserved, Ben Jonson House’s communal areas are largely in their original condition due to the estate’s Grade II*-listed status. Rich toned quarry tiles lie underfoot in the stairwells, while the corridors are laid with vivid blue carpet.
On the second floor, the apartment is reached via a lift. The entrance from the south side of the building’s central corridor opens into a small hall. The living area lies beyond, with the original open-plan kitchen designed by yacht fitters Brooke Marine to one end and a beautifully lit living space on the other. Wide hardwood-framed glazed doors provide peaceful views across the cityscape. The neutral finishes used throughout the home amplify its brightness.
A bespoke bookcase sits next to the doorway into the spacious bedroom, where hardwood-framed windows draw in plenty of natural light. There is ample storage in the original recessed wardrobe.
The bathroom opens from the entrance hall; thoughtfully preserved, it has an abundance of original features, including the sink, bath tiles and chrome fixtures.
Outdoor Space
One of the original intents of the Barbican plan was to provide an enclosed green sanctuary for those who lived there. As a result, residents have access to both private and public gardens. The private gardens extend to around two-and-a-half acres and comprise expansive lawns, various species of mature trees, and textual borders with native and exotic species. There are also dedicated areas for children’s play.
The Area
The Barbican Arts Centre is on its residents’ doorstep and houses a theatre, an art gallery, a concert venue, cinemas, and several bars and cafés. The City of London has also recently appointed Allies and Morrison Architects and Asif Khan Studio to deliver a multi-million-pound renewal of the Barbican Centre. The Centre forms a key part of the ‘Culture Mile’, the City of London’s cultural district stretching from Farringdon to Moorgate. The ‘Cultural Mile’ includes the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London. It provides a vibrant and creative area with a diverse and international cultural programme of concerts, events, and performances.
Ben Jonson House is near an excellent selection of pubs and restaurants, including the nearby Smithfield Market, St. John, Luca, The Quality Chop House, and the delights of Exmouth Market. Whitecross Street also has a food market every weekday. St Paul’s, the River Thames, the South Bank and Tate Modern are all close by.
Transport links are excellent, with Underground stations at nearby Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines), Old Street (Northern Line), and Moorgate (Northern, Hammersmith & City, Circle and Metropolitan Lines). Farringdon Station offers a host of Underground lines (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Elizabeth Lines) as well as Thameslink services to Gatwick Airport, Brighton and Bedford.
Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 172 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £5,800 per annum (this includes heating, lift maintenance, building insurance, cleaning and maintenance of the communal gardens and grounds).
Ground Rent: Approx. £10 per annum
Council Tax Band: D (City of London)
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
Between 1954 and 1968, Peter Chamberlin, Geoffry Powell and Christoph Bon drew up four distinct schemes for the Barbican that they continued to modify even after construction had started in 1965. Their intention was to create a residential precinct which would, as they wrote in the 1959 Barbican Redevelopment Plan, allow people to live “both conveniently and with pleasure”. Their mission would include a quiet pedestrian space that would be “uninterrupted by road traffic”, where people would be able to “move about freely enjoying constantly changing perspectives of terraces, lawns, trees and flowers” and see “the new buildings reflected in the ornamental lake.”
The first building on the estate, Speed House, was officially opened in 1969, and the final building, Shakespeare Tower, was completed in 1969. In 2001, the Barbican Estate was given a Grade-II listing. Contained within its 40 acres are three towers, 13 terrace blocks, two mews, and several separate residential buildings. The green communal gardens on the estate offset the striking concrete profile that the Barbican is known for; residents are given exclusive access to a range of gardens, including a thriving wildlife garden managed by volunteer residents. The Barbican is also known for its series of labyrinthine, high-level walkways that connect the estate while separating pedestrians from cars below.
Ben Jonson house was completed in March 1973 and formed part of phase five of the City’s building program for the Barbican site. Running along the northern side, it is the longest terrace block on the estate with 204 flats. Its eponym, Ben Jonson, was an English playwright and poet (1572-1637).He had a considerable influence on English poetry and stage comedy and lived in the parish of St Giles-without-Cripplegate, which included the site that the Barbican Estate was built on. Residents here, as with the rest of the estate, enjoy access to private gardens as well as the Barbican Centreitself, which is home to large foyers and public spaces, a library, the Lakeside Terrace, conference facilities, three restaurants, and a sizeable conservatory with over 1,500 species of plants and trees.
