"The City of London Corporation has formally approved the delivery plan for the renewal of the Barbican Centre, confirming a £191 million investment to support the first five-year phase of a long-term transformation programme. Approved in December 2025, the decision secures funding for major repairs, infrastructure upgrades, and public space improvements across the Grade II-listed complex. Subject to planning permission, major construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion of this phase targeted for 2030, ahead of the Barbican's 50th anniversary."
"Designed by Chamberlin, Powell & Bon and constructed between 1965 and 1982, the Barbican is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive Brutalist ensembles in Europe. Conceived as a mixed-use development integrating residential, cultural, and recreational functions, the complex houses concert halls, theatres, cinemas, galleries, exhibition spaces, a library, and the Conservatory. After more than four decades of near-continuous use since opening in 1982, the estate's buildings and systems have experienced significant wear, prompting the need for a coordinated, long-term renewal strategy."
"The Barbican Renewal Programme was initiated following an international competition in 2021, which resulted in the appointment of a multidisciplinary design team led by Allies and Morrison, working in collaboration with Asif Khan Studio and Buro Happold, alongside specialists in heritage, sustainability, landscape, lighting, acoustics, and access design. The approved delivery plan reflects several years of design development and public consultation, with over 90 per cent of respondents expressing support for the proposed approach."
A £191 million delivery plan funds the first five-year phase of a long-term Barbican renewal, with preparatory upgrades starting in early 2026 and major construction planned from 2027 to 2030. The programme targets major repairs, infrastructure upgrades, and public space improvements across the Grade II-listed complex. Most Barbican programmes will pause for about one year between June 2028 and June 2029 to facilitate works. The renewal responds to decades of continuous use and resulting wear and is led by a multidisciplinary design team appointed after an international competition, following extensive design development and public consultation.
Read at ArchDaily
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