January_1971 — Page 38

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Living

Floor plan - tower block

Bedroom

Hall

GIGA

Lift

Lift

Bedroom

Hall

Lift

Qining

Bedroom

Bedroom 2

Bedroom

Bedroom1

Bedroom 2

Living

Bedroom 41

Bedroom 1

Kitchen

Living

Dining LJ

Axonometric view of block VII split-level flat

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WC

Living/Dining

Dining

tions required special treatment, the Barbican is conceived and executed in 'in situ' reinforced concrete with the main blocks of flats, and other struc- tural elements, supported by massive concrete columns founded on bored piles sunk up to 60 ft (18 metres) into the London clay.

The tower blocks' main structure is made up of a central lift shaft and stairwells with a peripheral framework of beams and split piers rising from ex- posed columns; the structure of the terrace blocks is based on 'in situ' con- crete crosswalls supported on columns with 'in situ' floor slabs spanning in both directions between the crosswalls and the balcony edge beams.

Two grades of structural concrete, with 28-day test cube strengths of 4,800 and 6,000 lb/in2 (34 and 42 MN/m2), are used. Except in special conditions batching and mixing were carried out on site.

Living in the City

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The Barbican brings back to the City of London at least in one neighbourhood something of the cosmopolitan urban life that marked the Square Mile in years past: educa- tion, the arts and above all a neigh- bourhood designed for and lived in by people. And not designed merely for people to sleep in, but for them to live in.

Accommodation ranges from one room bachelor flats to six room and seven room terrace houses; from flats and maisonettes close to the ground with private town gardens to tower flats 400ft. above the ground with panoramic views of the City, the river and all London beyond.

To date 380 flats and maisonettes have been let on five-year leases at rents ranging from £535 (US$1,544.5) for a two room unit to £1,065 (US$2,504.5) p.a. for a five room unit with two bathrooms. Rents include underfloor background heating, gen- eral services, refrigerator, cooker, ex- ternal window cleaning and water rate, there are resident housekeepers and maintenance engineers, with porters and car park attendants on duty 24 hours a day.

Above all the Barbican is a place where people can live in a truly resi dential community in the heart of the City within walking distance or even within sight of their offices, and play their part in the life and government of the city.

Far East BUILDER, January 1971