Listed sixties tower given a sensitive modern makeover

Project: Balfron Tower

Location: London,United Kingdom

Award: Residential Interiors: Residential Developments (Apartments), Silver, 2023

Design Practice: Studio Egret West

Client: Poplar HARCA

Erno Goldfinger’s iconic Balfron Tower in East London, has been brought up to date by developer Telford Homes with a sensitive interiors refit from Studio Egret West.
The 27-storey tower, originally built between 1965 and 67 for the Greater London Council, had fallen into disrepair and out of favour. However, thanks to the renewed interest in Brutalist architecture, the building became Grade II listed in 1996 and upgraded to Grade II* in 2015.

The tower features contemporary open plan flats, six of which have been maintained as ‘heritage flats’ in keeping with the original layouts. To encourage more neighbourly socialising in the ‘streets in the sky’, door thresholds are set back and clustered in sets of three. Frosted and reeded windows bring life to the corridors without loss of privacy. 

Design highlights

Communal rooms in the former utility tower offer extra space for residents to socialise outside of their private dwellings – these include a cinema, yoga studio, dining and kitchen space, gym, library and a private roof terrace. The exposed concrete structure has been extensively repaired and cleaned and technical issues such as cold bridging, insulation, fire and acoustic performance have all been addressed.

Photo credit: Tim Crocker