082 FOCUS


THE ICONIC Barbican Estate incorporates around 2,000 residential flats in the City of London. When a community of residents of Frobisher Crescent – one of 13 terrace blocks in the complex – was looking to re-carpet the communal walkways, they reviewed a number of design proposals, choosing Milliken to undertake the floor covering project.


Te residents were keen to find a high-performance floor covering that would visually reflect the urban aesthetic of the Barbican’s signature brutalist architecture. Presented with a variety of proposals, they chose Milliken’s solution for a combination of its Facet and Urban Graffiti modular carpet designs. Using modular carpet also meant that product wastage could be minimised, typically 14% compared to 65% for broadloom floor coverings. Importantly, this also saves cost and reduces the impact on the environment. The Urban Graffiti ‘rugs’ set within a field of Facet was also simple and efficient to install due to its modular format.


Facet’s tufted level loop pile construction features asymmetrical striations, designed with Milliken’s Millitron digital colour placement technology. Specified in the neutral tones of Latte, the design is installed as the main field carpet for the walkways. Set within the field carpet, large rug-style insets of Milliken’s bold and colourful Urban Graffiti design adds some drama and interest.


As part of the Comfortable Concrete Retold design collection, the multi-tile design is composed of 12 individual tile elements that come together to create one single, randomly laid design feature. Choosing Urban Graffiti’s Pastel colour combination, the residents felt that the contemporary design offered a burst of style and fun into these typically mundane spaces. Installed strategically at the main walkway intersections, the design also serves as a


Barbican Estate London


means of wayfinding through the building. The Barbican terrace building’s curved form can present some potential challenges for installation of floor coverings. Te scope of the project covered three floors of Frobisher Crescent’s communal walkways, each at 300m2


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Both carpet designs feature Milliken’s integral WELLBAC Comfort cushion backing. As well as absorbing much of the impact noise of people moving around the walkways, the cushion backing has been designed to feel comfortable underfoot and help absorb wear from foot traffic.


All images The residents were keen to find a high-performance floor covering that would visually reflect the urban aesthetic of the Barbican’s signature brutalist architecture


As an additional performance measure, Milliken’s OBEX Tile Entrance Flooring was installed at each entry area to prevent moisture, dirt and dust particles from residents’ footwear entering the building. millikenfloors.com


ALL IMAGES: GARETH GARDNER


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