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When Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Barbican Centre in 1982, she declared it ‘one of the wonders of the modern world’. Some 44 years on, the brutalist icon looks set to become more wondrous still, as the City of London Corporation has formally approved a planning application for upgrades worth a whopping £231 million.
London’s architecture geeks have known about these plans for a while. Upgrades for the Barbican Centre date back to at least 2024, with more details released around this time last year. Renders of the project were revealed last May, while December saw news that the works would result in a year-long closure of the arts centre. The latest update has seen the Barbican Centre’s era-defining makeover get official approval.
The City Corporation Planning and Design department worked with the Barbican Renewal Team and its design team, led by Allies and Morrison, a London-based practice of architects and urbanists. The City of London Corporation described the resulting plan as ‘sensitive, conservation-led, yet future facing’.
Last year, the proposed changes, which will not add any new space to the venue, received 90 percent of public support.
So, what’s actually being done to the brutalist beast? Well, changes will be made to the Barbican’s famous Conservatory, beloved among Londoners for its lush greenery, to address long-standing maintenance issues and to improve accessibility. This will include a new lift (providing step-free access to the fly tower for the first time) and stairs up to the Conservatory’s raised balconies, offering eye-popping views over the flora below. The scheme will also introduce a climate-controlled habitat to help protect the Conservatory’s plants.
Elsewhere at the Centre, there will be enhanced accessibility to the Concert Hall, Theatre and surrounding spaces. The City of London Corporation hopes that the changes will ‘represent a major step forward in ensuring the venue is more inclusive and accessible for all visitors’. A new wayfinding system, which was announced last November, will make the Barbican that bit less labyrinthine.
The Grade II-listed building’s foyers and lakeside terrace will be subject to redevelopment to shore up their future, with Conservatory glass and pavers repurposed in the name of sustainable conservation.
The renewal plan comes with an eye on the Barbican Centre’s 50th anniversary in 2032, with inclusivity and accessibility part of the focus – there will be a new multi-faith prayer room, for instance. In all, £191m of the £231m will come from the City Corporation, with the remainder sought through partnerships and philanthropy.
But the revamp will come at a cost: after major work begins in 2027, the Centre will close its doors for an entire year from June 2028 to summer 2029. The cinemas on Beech Street will remain open and the Barbican will work with the likes of the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company during this period.
City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said of the project’s planning application approval: ‘This decision marks a major step forward for the Barbican Centre and its place on the world stage. By backing it with significant investment, we’re driving jobs, boosting the City’s economy, and strengthening its reputation as a magnet for visitors, talent, and audiences from across the globe.
‘Just as importantly, we’re transforming the Centre so it’s open, accessible and ready for the future.’
Did you see that the Barbican has announced a nightlife programme with parties until 3am?
Plus: The Barbican’s beautiful Sculpture Court public space is set for a huge revamp.
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