Barbican residents rally against monster' office development they say overshadows iconic brutalist landmark

"The proposed development at 1 Silk Street just metres from the Barbican Centre is being promoted as a scheme that would open up a new public plaza at the culture complex's entrance, currently hidden down a narrow side street off Beech Street. The existing 1980s building, occupied by Magic Circle law firm Linklaters, would be demolished to make way for the new structure."

"'Locals have described the proposal as a visual disaster looming over the iconic Barbican centre, warning it will cause an unacceptable loss of daylight and irreparably damage the heritage and character of both the Barbican Estate and nearby Cromwell Tower. They say the domineering building will diminish the internationally recognised estate, celebrated for its brutalist design and status as one of post-war Britain's most ambitious urban projects.'"

"Plans for a 20-storey office block in the City of London have attracted more than 900 objections from residents, with one fearing he will never be able to see the sky again from his study. The plans also include a pedestrian arcade linking Silk Street and Milton Street, with the 90,650 sq m scheme spread across two blocks above ground-floor cultural and retail units."

Plans for a 20-storey office block at 1 Silk Street, metres from the Barbican Centre, propose demolishing a 1980s Linklaters-occupied building to create a new public plaza and a pedestrian arcade linking Silk Street and Milton Street. The 90,650 sq m scheme would span two blocks above ground-floor cultural and retail units and use concrete, horizontal lines and a compatible colour palette intended to echo the Barbican's brutalist architecture. More than 900 residents have objected, warning the tower would dominate the area, overshadow homes, cause unacceptable daylight loss, and irreparably damage the heritage and character of the Barbican Estate and nearby Cromwell Tower. Residents describe the design as a visual disaster and some have nicknamed the proposal 'The Dump'.

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