Balfron Tower
The Balfron Tower is a 27- story high-rise in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. The tower is part of a large estate, which includes the high-rise Carradale House is one. The system of social housing is located in the district of Poplar near the northern portal of the Blackwall Tunnel on the A12. The buildings were designed by architect Ernő Goldfinger in 1963 on behalf of the London County Council and built in the years 1965-1967 by the planning authority Greater London Council. The buildings are part of the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest Grade II
Description and Architecture
The Balfron Tower is 84 meters high and houses 27 floors of 146 accommodation units, of which 136 are regular apartments and ten maisonettes. The individual floors are accessible via an elevator system, the north are located in a separate tower building after the high-rise. A special feature is that not every floor is individually accessible via the lift. The three floors served by the elevator, the floor of the breakpoint as well as a floor above and one below it. The tower is connected by seven Skyways with the main house and houses next to the elevators and laundry rooms, the garbage chute and into the top of a boiler room. Balfron Tower is recorded since March 1996 in the official list of historic monuments with the grade II. On the high house there are radio and television antennas. From a skyscraper channels BBC One and BBC Two are emitted.
To the north of Balfron Tower, the somewhat simpler held Condominium Carradale House joins. It was completed in the years 1967 to 1970 and also designed by Ernő Goldfinger. The 37 -meter-high residential building consists of two residential wings, which are also connected in the middle by a service tower for the elevator on each side by three Skyways together. Carradale House also belongs in the official list of historic monuments with the grade II; the building was added to the list in 2000. The 11- storey building has 88 apartments. Below the skyscrapers are located underground garages.
Originally, the two houses were called Rowlett Street Phases I and II before being renamed after the two Scottish towns Balfron and Carradale. The naming pattern followed by other buildings in the area.
Background
Topping of Balfron Tower was on June 7, 1967. Architect Goldfinger, who was very connected with the style of brutalism, moved in 1968 itself for two months in an apartment in the 25 floor. He and his wife held a champagne party for the residents to find out what the residents want the design of the house and what is not. Experiences from this project he incorporated in the famous Trellick Tower later. Goldfinger's architects built in 1971 in the same style on the same property, the 14 -storey Glenkerry House.
In December 2007, the ownership of the two high-rise buildings on the property management association Poplar harca has been transferred in accordance with the vote of the people, which occurs as a non-profit organization. They undertook to restore the buildings and return it to its original state. At the same time the house should be equipped with modern facilities to be so today's standard of living needs. Up to this work, some homes were temporarily occupied by artists who created some works of art there.
Balfron Tower in the media
The Balfron Tower is seen in the opening sequences of the music video Morning Glory of music band Oasis. In addition, the high-rise has often been shown in many British shows, such as in series Hustle - dishonesty is the best policy, The Fixer or Whitechapel.
The house also served as the apocalyptic horror thriller 28 Days Later as a backdrop. During the film two survivors are shown that entrench themselves in Balfron Tower.
Furthermore, the house is used lightning as a backdrop in the film.