Architecture

Buildings where the building is the reason to go: the inside-out, the Art Deco, the concrete, and the ones that make no sense at all until somebody explains them.

Barbican Centre

Thirty-five acres of concrete, water and planting, built on ground the Blitz had cleared.

Concrete & brutalistYou can go insideFree

The lakeside terrace in winter: rows of white benches on brick paving, round brick planters with fountains at the water's edge, a long terrace block on stilts across the lake, and a church tower among the towers of the City behind. — The Lakeside Terrace, St Giles Cripplegate's tower at the far end.

The Barbican's lake seen from under a concrete walkway: a long block of flats with rows of balconies curving round the green water, a waterfall spilling from a raised platform, benches on the brick terrace and glass towers beyond. — The lake from the high walk.

Stepping stones of brick crossing the green lake to a platform where someone sits at a small table, tall reeds along the bank, a long terrace block on stilts with balconies of plants beyond, and the dark brick school building on the right.

Looking down on the lake: a round brick platform at the edge of a weir in front, a brick walkway leading out to planted islands of reeds and shrubs under iron domes, and the terrace blocks with their curved balconies around the water.

The lake from under the high walk: planted islands and reeds in green water, a brick terrace with benches, a long block of flats with rows of balconies enclosing the far side, and glass towers rising behind it.

Also in Museums and Art and Performance venues.

Chamberlin, Powell and Bon began work in 1955 on a bombed site where almost nothing was left standing, and the estate took until 1976 to finish and the arts centre until 1982. It is one idea carried out completely: a raised deck for people with the traffic underneath, towers and long blocks arranged around lakes and gardens, and every surface of concrete hammered by hand with a pick to expose the granite aggregate - a job that took years and is the reason the walls have that rough, quarried look. Nobody agrees on the way-finding. Follow the yellow line on the floor, get lost anyway, and come out on a terrace above a lake with a conservatory of palm trees behind you.

Where: Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Nearest station: Barbican · 4 min walk

Google Maps @barbicancentre barbican.org.uk

Step-free access

On here now

Coming up

NearbyArchitecture

NearbyOther Categories

See more nearby listings

Submit a correction for this listing.

Data is compiled from public sources including OpenStreetMap, under the ODbL. Hours change often, so check before making a journey.