Plans for Barbican revamp get go-ahead

British architecture studios Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio plan to renew the Barbican Centre have received planning approval from the City of London Corporation.

The £231 million upgrade will involve restoring and improving accessibility in the brutalist landmark, including in its foyers, lakeside terrace and conservatory.

Named the Barbican Renewal Programme, Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio designed the intervention to be focused on conservation while also introducing alterations that would ensure the Grade-II listed building's long-lasting future.

Working with engineering studio Buro Happold, the revamp is expected to commence in 2027 in preparation for the Barbican's 50th anniversary in 2032.

The Barbican Centre is set to close most of its activities between 2028 and 2029 to allow for building works.

It is hoped that the retrofit will attract a greater audience and help facilitate the performing arts centre in hosting a wider range of events.

"The Barbican is special," Allies and Morrison partner Daniel Elsea told Dezeen. "It's many different kinds of art, it's public, it's landscape, outdoors and indoors – it's a beauty."

"Since winning the competition in 2023, with every milestone, we only feel even more lucky as we deepen our engagement with the rehabilitation of modernist architecture for a new age and new audiences."

The Barbican Renewal Programme will involve improvements to maintenance and accessibility in the Barbican Conservatory, allowing it to open to the public full-time.

A new stair and lift will be added to give access to the conservatory's raised balconies, and a climate-controlled plant habitat will be installed.

A lift will also be added to the Barbican Centre's main foyer, providing step-free access to the concert hall, theatre and surrounding areas.

Restoration works will be carried out on the building's foyers and lakeside terrace.

The Barbican Centre, which originally opened in 1984, was designed by UK architecture studio Chamberlin, Powell and Bon. It gained Grade II-listed status in 2001 along with the wider Barbican housing estate.

Conservation group Twentieth Century Society was consulted when developing plans for the brutalist building's renewal.

"The Barbican Centre is an incredibly important part of this listed, post-war mega-structure and we're delighted it is receiving significant investment ahead of its 50th birthday," said Twentieth Century Society director Catherine Croft.

"Twentieth Century Society has been closely involved in the development of the renewal scheme and welcomes the sensitive, heritage-led approach," she continued. "It balances the need to widen access to the arts centre with carefully reinstating and replicating original design features from 1982."

In 2021, plans for a concert hall designed by Diller Scofidio & Renfro, set to be built near the Barbican estate, were scrapped in favour of revamping the brutalist landmark.

The London Wall West office development, designed by Diller Scofidio & Renfro, is planned to be built at the edge of the estate, which would involve razing the 1970s Museum of London and Bastion House. However, the demolition plans are to be challenged at the High Court following environmental concerns raised by the Barbican Quarter Organisation.

The images are by Kin Creatives.

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