Barbican Penthouse Room, Storage Mezzanine

Thomson Brothers have installed a number of mezzanine platforms in the double height penthouse rooms found in some Barbican flats. This latest one is an interesting variation. Because the platform is only intended to be accessed occasionally for storage of clothing and suitcases, our client opted to not have a permanent staircase. In place of a fixed staircase, a sturdy pull-down loft ladder and hatch was fitted, freeing up all of the bedroom floor space below for normal use; the flat has effectively acquired an attic! A solid balustrade to the front still allows you to look over and down onto the bedroom space below.

Thomson Brothers also designed and built new wardrobes and drawer units in the bedroom.

The loft ladder and hatch in use.

Simple wardrobes where built at mezzanine level for efficient storage of clothing.

A view from the hatch.

A great way to store ties.

 

Simple bedside storage.

Thomson Brothers also designed and built this Audio Visual unit for the same flat.

Suspended False Ceilings With Inset Spot Lighting

As part of the full refurbishment of this flat in one of the Barbican towers, Thomson Brothers installed suspended ceilings which make it possible to have inset spot lighting. This is something we have done in several Barbican properties over the past couple of years. We can assist with gaining the required listed building consent and landlords approval.

In this case separate concealed LED "mood" lighting was provided in a perimeter trough which also serves to neatly hide curtain tracks and blind mechanisms. On a photographic note, I was lucky enough to be taking pictures as the sun set; the LED lights momentarily complimented the flats stunning views of the London skyline as the light levels and colour balanced. (Camera, Nikon D70s, Lens, Tamron 10 to 24mm)

The design for this unit to house the flats audio visual system was worked up from our clients own concept. We took his original thumbnail sketch and created a finished design, liaising with Grahams Hi Fi to make sure all the equipment fitted and had adequate ventilation; the unit was made in our workshop before being fitted on site.

Earlier, still some minutes before sunset begins, St Paul's and the Millennium Wheel are both visible against the London sky. The views from the Barbican towers constantly alter with the time of day and change of season not to mention the differing daily events taking place below, in the city itself.

Wallside House Refurbishment November 2011

Thomson Brothers are just completing the total refurbishment of a house on Wallside in the Barbican Estate, below are some selected images of the finished work with a few "before" photos for comparison...

Before (see our before and after page for more comparisons)

A new penthouse room was formed in what was a covered outdoor roof space (see before image below)

Non structural walls were opened up onto the stair case; new sliding hardwood doors which emulate original Barbican joinery were installed at either end of the resulting space; the house still benefits form two generous roof terraces, front and back while gaining a spectacular extra room.

Before (see our before and after page for more comparisons)

Light slots were cut through the central staircase wall on the landings and glazed with white "diff lam" glass

The original standard doors were replaced with new full height units with glazed vertical light slots

A new shower was fitted in the bathroom utilising a wasted space behind the seperate hall WC

A utility room was created by using the rear of the garage, still leaving enough space to garage a small car or motorbike.