Being carpeted does make it more “original”… the Barbican leases specify that floors should be carpeted. Either because in the 1960s/70s no one thought you’d want uncarpeted floors or because it was thought to be the only way to prevent noise disturbing one’s downstairs neighbours.
Of course, as estate agents’ photos show, plenty of Barbican flats do have non-carpeted floors but should people living below kick up a fuss about the noise of high heels or tap dancing, the estate office can (and, apparently, has, on at least one occasion) force the noisy leaseholder to replace their floorboards/resin/whatever with carpet.
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