CASE STUDY: BARBICAN CLASSIC
A modernist kitchen in an iconic setting, our Barbican Classic replaces the original kitchen in this Central London apartment with a mid-century inspired interior that's both sensitive to its context, and playful in its approach.
THE CONTEXT:
This Barbican kitchen project began, as all our projects do, with a quick chat on Zoom. The client had recently acquired a Type 20 apartment in the Barbican Estate, Central London — one of the UK's most celebrated examples of Brutalist and modernist architecture — and wanted a bespoke kitchen design that respected that context without resorting to mimicry or pastiche.
The kitchen presented a unique challenge. Maximising storage in a compact London flat without making the space feel cramped was essential. We also had to navigate the Barbican's famously complex plumbing and electrical layout, all while ensuring no damage to the Grade II listed structure.
Despite these constraints, H.Miller Bros successfully incorporated a full suite of appliances, including a washing machine, while meaningfully increasing both storage capacity and food preparation space. A compact kitchen, but a significant achievement in considered, space-conscious design.
THE WOOD:
The client wanted a kitchen crafted from wood that perfectly complements the mid-century modern aesthetic of their apartment. After exploring several options, we chose cherry wood for its sustainable sourcing and timeless appeal. Unlike many tropical hardwoods, such as Iroko or teak, European cherry is available with sustainability certification and full chain-of-custody, making it an environmentally responsible choice.
Cherry wood was also selected for its warm, burnt-sugar tone, which naturally deepens and enhances with exposure to sunlight. To showcase the wood’s exceptional grain patterns, we carefully selected the most visually striking sections for the kitchen door and drawer fronts. This approach ensures that the natural beauty of cherry wood is a focal point in the kitchen, blending sustainability with classic mid-century style.
BARBICAN CLASSIC: VIDEO TOUR
DESIGN - SWITCHES + LIGHT BOX:
A standout design feature in this project is the kitchen light box with integrated switches. Inspired by the original upper cabinetry, we wanted to reinstate this element to complement the apartment’s mid-century character. The brushed stainless steel switches, designed to echo the originals, control the Quooker tap, hob, and dimmable LED lighting, while a conveniently placed power socket at the end makes charging phones or devices effortless.
The light box is a defining detail of our Mid-Century Classic kitchen designs. In this project, it doubles as a cabinet for tableware and glassware, featuring sliding Diffusion Perspex doors. Behind these doors, LED lights cast a soft, ambient glow, illuminating the cabinet’s contents while enhancing the warm, mid-century modern kitchen aesthetic. This combination of functional lighting and elegant design ensures the kitchen is as practical as it is visually striking.
SMOKED GLASS / DIVIDER:
An original design feature of this kitchen is the open hatch to the living room, which floods the space with natural light and creates a seamless visual connection between the kitchen and living areas. To enhance this feature, the client suggested adding plant shelves. Embracing this idea, we designed a mid-century-inspired shelving framework in solid cherry wood, elegantly suspended on a hanging dowel.
The shelves, crafted from smoked glass and carefully cut around the central dowel, provide a striking visual detail. This design not only highlights the beauty of cherry wood in mid-century kitchen design, but also pays subtle homage to the Barbican estate’s architectural character, celebrating its meticulous construction and timeless aesthetic.
BARBICAN CLASSIC: BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Vital Statistics:
Completed: July 2025. Wood: Cherry. Appliances: Siemens / Fisher & Paykel. Worktops: Caesarstone. Tap: Quooker. Lighting: HMB Originals
