Photographer Anton Rodriguez is better placed than most to discuss life on London’s most iconic Brutalist housing estate.

Having lived on the estate himself for five years – in no less than three of Chamberlin, Powell and Bon’s striking concrete apartment blocks – Rodriguez is well equipped to comment on just what makes the Barbican such a desirable place to be. But, more than this, he’s also spent the last five years interviewing and photographing his fellow residents, building up a unique picture of what life on the estate is like.

Rodriguez’s fascination with Barbican life began as a blog, Barbican Residents, which offered through-the-keyhole insights into the lives and homes of his neighbours. A freelance portrait photographer, he was able to capture the relationship between the residents and their living spaces, and in doing so revealed a seldom-seen side to the community – the diversity of characters and tastes within its vast concrete walls. Rodriguez’s profiles were met with considerable enthusiasm, culminating in the publication of Residents: Insides the Iconic Barbican Estate last year, which fascinatingly documents 22 of the most interesting homes within the estate.

Turning the camera back on Rodriguez, we paid him a visit in his current Barbican flat – a one-bedroom apartment in Willoughby House, where he’s lived for the last three months with his girlfriend Laura – to take a seldom-seen glimpse inside his own home.

How did you choose where on the estate to live?

I’ve been in the Barbican for five years, and have lived in four quite different apartments across three blocks. My current flat, in Willoughby House, was actually the home of one of the residents I interviewed for my book. My previous landlord had told me he was looking to move back to the Barbican, so I needed to find somewhere else relatively quickly – I heard from the residents they were also looking to move out, so it was ideal. The apartment is beautifully light and spacious, and just what I was after.

My previous apartment was a beautiful penthouse in Thomas More House (it was actually on the cover of “Residents”), and prior to that I’d rented two different apartments in Ben Jonson House. My favourite was definitely the apartment in Thomas More – it had a view of St Paul’s Cathedral and a fantastic amount of light for the majority of the day. I’d love to move into that type of flat – a type 23 – again.

What are the most important elements of a home to you?

Space and light, without a doubt. For me, a home has to be bright and also have enough space to actually live.

I lived in a few other places in London (when I initially moved here from Liverpool), and they were so small. We’re really fortunate now to have a large amount of space that allows us to make our flat really feel like our home, with our own furniture and style.

How does your work enter your home?

When I’m not out on a photo shoot I work from home, so it’s really important for me to have a work space that’s divided from my main living area, as we only have a one-bedroom flat. This is why I love Vitsoe so much – it allows me to have a beautifully arranged storage system, as well as a functional and minimalist work station that doesn’t encroach on the rest of the room.

What’s your favourite part of the apartment?

The floor-to-ceiling windows – they just allow so much light in all day. I’m also a big fan of the original Barbican kitchen. Although it’s quite old now, it’s still perfectly usable and looks great.

What’s your next purchase for your home?

I’d love a new dining table. I’m a big fan of Dieter Rams’ simple, clean designs – and would love to invest in his dining table next.

What do you love most about life on the Barbican Estate?

I think the crux of it is that it’s so much more than just a housing estate. The private gardens and lake are my absolute favourite thing to visit in the summer. Having the Barbican Centre and three cinemas on your door step is pretty amazing, too.

The services we receive as residents are also really great. Little things like the underfloor heating, and the fact that your rubbish gets collected from the cupboard next to your front door.

What would your next home look like?

Honestly it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else in London; I think we’ll be in the Barbican for a long time. If we were to move within the estate though, I’d love a triplex apartment as they offer a great layout with the benefits of a barrel vault ceiling.

And finally, if, or when, you do move to a new home, what would be the first thing you’d take with you?

My Rocket Espresso Machine. It’s survived four moves within the Barbican so far and is usually the first thing that goes with us. I got really into coffee when I first moved to London, and wasn’t used to the fast pace of life. Since then I’ve become obsessed with coffee paraphernalia, both for espresso and filter coffee. I’ve got a lot of it displayed in my apartment which I experiment with quite often to try and create the perfect cup!

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