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Everybody already loves the brutalist marvel that is the Barbican, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t get even better. The Barbie has revealed plans to re-activate its amazing Sculpture Court for everyday public use.
Located above the Concert Hall and framed by the curve of Frobisher Crescent, the glorious one-acre courtyard was originally meant as a multi-purpose space in which to experience art and architecture. However after four decades, limited accessibility, deteriorating infrastructure and poor seating has meant the area is largely unused by the public.
The Barbican has opened a public consultation for its plans to restore the courtyard to its former glory. Under the plans, the Barbican bosses want to bring the courtyard back into civic life. They will create a flexible and accessible public space and meeting area while making urgent repairs and tending to conservation needs that impact the hall below.
More than 2,000 new plants, including evergreen shrubs, small trees and seasonal flowering species, will be introduced through a series of large brick planters. Step-free access will be created for the first time, while integrated seating will provide resting and gathering points. New ramps will connect directly to the Level 3 foyer, and the Conservatory, which will be open to the public every day and fully accessible, from 2030.
Currently, Sculpture Court hosts the Barbican’s outdoor cinema programme, and it will also host a major public art commission by Delcy Morelos in the spring.
Subject to consultation feedback, planning permission and funding, works are expected to take place between summer 2028 and summer 2029, alongside major refurbishments to the conservatory, theatre, lakeside terrace and foyers.
Philippa Simpson, director for Buildings and Renewal, said: ‘From the very beginning, the Barbican Centre was conceived as a site of encounter where art sits at the heart of public life. These proposals return the Sculpture Court to that original intention, creating a generous and dynamic civic space for all our visitors.
‘This consultation is an opportunity for audiences, visitors and local communities to help shape a space that offers so much, while remaining true to the spirit and ambition of the Centre and ensuring people can enjoy it for the next 50 years.’
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