Bunyan Court (completed in 1972) is one of the blocks which forms the Barbican Estate (grade II listed), an outstanding example of brutalist architecture in London.
This particular flat is a M3a type - a triplex at 5th, 6th and 7th floor with the top floor comprising a double height space with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.
The brief was for the design of a carefully crafted piece of furniture, slotted into the top floor room forming a mezzanine platform, shower room and wardrobes to serve the master bedroom.
The design of the bathroom was carefully coordinated with the existing communal services. The shower enclosure is lined with white hi-macs panelling and has a bespoke shower tray.
The timber for the intervention is oak, in plywood panels with a birch core and 4mm facing veneers to both sides. It was chosen to contrast with the hardwood used for the existing staircase.
Storage and shutters were carefully integrated into the design of the upper platform and follow the curve of the ceiling.
The design was based on the idea of a room within a room as well as a lived-in piece of furniture: a multi-functional object occupying a larger space.
Photography by Anton Rodriguez