Barbican Centre, London : Brutalist Architecture

The Barbican Complex Completed: 1982 Architects: Chamberlin, Powell and Bon Area: 7 acres Barbican Arts Centre, City of London, England photo © Nick Weall Home of London Symphony Orchestra The area was badly bombed during World War II Owner: City of London photos © Adrian Welch The Barbican Centre has been voted London's 'ugliest building'. But look at the beautiful landscaping and the intelligent density - kids playing basketball under residential blocks (below), noise accepted to the benefit of easy access to healthy sport and places to hang out and get away from polluted streets. The Barbican Centre is an oasis in the city, car-free and focused on water and plants. The buildings can be a bit harsh but softened by hundreds of window box flowers. photo © Adrian Welch Status: Grade II listed, 2001 Style: brutalist architecture Barbican Centre : Chamberlin, Powell and Bon Barbican Centre - Facilities Concert Hall - 1949 seats Barbican Theatre - 1166 seats Barbican Art Gallery Pit Theatre - 200 seats 3 Cinemas Curve Gallery Waterside Cafe Balcony Bistro Searcy's restaurant 7 Conference Suites 2 Exhibition Halls The Guildhall School of Music and Drama Barbican Library Project architect : John Honer Shakespeare Tower photograph © James Whitaker 2009 www.WhitakerStudio.co.uk Milton Court 1963 Chamberlin Powell & Bon Barbican Centre’s oldest building Due for demolition late 2007, not listed Study in 2006 by John Assael into possible re-use photos © Adrian Welch Barbican Centre Redevelopment – proposals: Guildhall School of Music tower 2007 David Walker Architects incl. 127m high residential tower + new Guildhall School of Music & Drama building submitted for planning Sep 2007; Proposal approved Nov 2007 Barbican complex was grade II listed in 2001 Acoustic Canopy + Ceiling, Barbican Hall, Barbican centre, City of London 2001 Caruso St John Barbican Centre buildings northwest of London Wall: photos © Adrian Welch Barbican Centre context : Moorgate Barbican Centre Refurbishment mid-1990s Theo Crosby, Pentagram Barbican Centre Refurbishment 2005-06 Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Barbican Centre Address: Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS Nearest Tube: Barbican Barbican housing complex Architects: Chamberlin, Powell and Bon 3 of London's tallest residential tower blocks Buildings nearby by architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon include: Golden Lane Estate Barbican Theatre built for Royal Shakespeare Company, who left in 2002 Adjacent Estate by the same architects : Golden Lane Estate