The Chamberlain Powell and Bonn designed Barbican development in the City of London has become a haven for architects and designers appreciating some of the results of the ‘carte blanche’ era of modernism. This refurbishment of a Type M3A (Barb residents often refer to the types – over 100 within 2000 or so apartments) was a triplex with barrel-vaulted 7th floor. Original kitchen and bathroom features were repaired, polished and re-grouted, and mahogany flooring laid throughout to match the stair joinery. An experimental sprung collapsing-plate shutter was purpose-designed for the vaulted top bedroom.