London. The Barbican Centre, a huge brutalist building located in the heart of London’s financial district, will enter a major phase of renovation. The Corporation of the City of London, the independent administration in charge of the district, which also owns the center, has given the green light for an initial five-year period of work. Called the “Barbican Renewal Program”, this phase 1 will cost 231 million pounds (265 M€), 80% financed by the Corporation (191 million pounds, or 219 M€). The rest will have to be raised through a donation campaign between now and the center’s 50th anniversary, in 2032.
While the site shows signs of aging, the Barbican master plan aims in particular to bring it up to current standards in terms of operation. “The entire district, completely destroyed by bombs, was born from the ruins of the Second World War,” recalls Philippa Simpson, director in charge of buildings and renovation. Its reconstruction was, according to her, “in a utopian vision of urban life, which places creativity and culture at the very heart of homes”. With a complex design, the center, built between 1971 and 1982, was arranged at the heart of a residential area of 2,500 apartments and 4,000 residents. It extends over seven floors and includes two theaters, three cinemas, a concert hall, two art galleries, and a greenhouse.
But the whole thing has aged badly. Fifty years later, the complex appears austere, visitors easily get lost in its large concrete walkways and its operation has become obsolete. The other objective therefore consists of making the building more welcoming as well as improving its energy performance. During this first phase, the work will focus on the open and free public spaces, the entrance halls, the greenhouse and the exterior spaces.“The first thing to do is to take care of the boiler room, located on the ground floor of the building, continues Philippa Simpson. It is full of old equipment that needs to be replaced with more efficient, ecological and sustainable solutions. » The floor of the greenhouse will be removed to be waterproofed, and this space will also be made accessible for wheelchairs or strollers. “We will also install new structures to organize events while keeping the greenhouse open to the public”she indicates. The objective would be to open it seven days a week compared to half a day a week today. All signage will also be transformed with the implementation of a new orientation system.
A renovated and preserved site
The project, however, provides for the preservation of the unique character of this complex classified as a historic monument (Grade II). Many heritage elements that have been removed, modified or distorted since the opening will be renovated. “We are also analyzing the question of the development of currently disused and unused areas, says Philippa Simpson. We would like to reopen them to the public, in collaboration with the City of London. » And while the center is visited by 1.5 million people per year, the management team is looking for a way to continue the activities of the place during the work, whether through partners, in new spaces or online.
The City of London’s support for this project is part of the Corporation’s strategy to revitalize the area. The Covid-19 pandemic, by transforming the rhythm of professional activities through teleworking, has contributed to emptying the neighborhood at the start and end of the week, which particularly weighs on local businesses. The Corporation seeks to once again attract workers but also tourists by making the district a “cultural destination”. The organization also renovated the London Museum, which it owns and which is located near the Barbican. The museum will open its doors in a new space, larger than the previous one, by the end of the year.
