Barbican Gets £231M Revamp
The Barbican Centre, Europe's largest multi-arts venue, secured approval for a £231 million renewal project. Plans include a new glass lift, expanded dining areas, and improvements to accessibility and infrastructure to secure this iconic cultural hub for future generations.
The ambitious renewal is led by architects Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio, with engineering by Buro Happold. The project is scheduled to commence in 2027, with the majority of the centre pausing activities between June 2028 and 2029 to accommodate the most intensive work. The goal is to complete the transformation for the Barbican's 50th anniversary in 2032. The City of London Corporation has committed £191 million to the project's first phase. The remaining funds to reach the £231 million total will be raised through philanthropic donations and partnerships. This investment is a central part of the City's "Destination City" growth strategy. A key focus is a "retrofit-first" approach to sustainability, aiming to significantly reduce the building's long-term environmental impact. This conservation-led plan involves reusing existing materials, such as the glass and pavers from the Conservatory, rather than adding new structures. The Grade II-listed building's heritage features will be carefully preserved. The plans, which received over 90% public support, have been welcomed by heritage groups like the Twentieth Century Society and Historic England for sensitively balancing modernization with the restoration of original 1982 design features. Major accessibility upgrades are central to the renewal, promising the most significant improvements in the Barbican's history. Beyond the new foyer lift, a second lift and a new staircase will be installed in the Conservatory, opening its raised balconies to the public for the first time. The beloved Conservatory will see long-standing maintenance issues addressed and a new climate-controlled habitat installed to ensure the health of its diverse plant species. The improvements aim to establish the revitalized conservatory as a major free visitor destination. The project extends to the Lakeside Terrace, which will be relandscaped with climate-resilient plants and have its fountains and brick pavers restored. Inside, the iconic Brutalist foyers will be repaired and have original features, like spherical glass light fittings, reinstated where they had been removed.
