21 h. ago London's Brutalist Barbican Centre to close for £240m renovation

London's Brutalist Barbican Centre to close for £240m renovation  theartnewspaper.com

Economics

3 d. ago ‘Like lipstick on a fabulous gorilla’: the Barbican’s many gaudy glow

The brutalist arts-and-towers complex, where even great explorers get lost, is showing its age. Let’s hope the 50th anniversary upgrade is better than the ‘pointillist stippling’ tried in the 1990sThe Barbican is aptly named. From the Old French barbacane, it historically means a fortified gateway forming the outer line of defence to a city or castle. London’s Barbican marks the site of a medieval structure that would have defended an important access point. Its architecture was designed to repel. Some might argue, as they stumble out of Barbican tube station and gaze upwards, not much has changed in the interim.The use of the word “barbican” was in decline in this country until the opening in 1982 of the Barbican Arts Centre. Taking 20 years to build, it completed the modernist megastructure of the Barbican Estate, grafted on to a huge tract of land devastated by wartime bombing. The aim was to bring life back to the City through swish new housing, energised by the presence of cult...

Politics

7 d. ago Barbican’s big update: What the renewal means for London’s iconic arts centre

London’s Barbican Centre is set for a £451m transformation, with plans revealed to modernise the ageing arts complex, improve accessibility and restore its Brutalist spaces for future generations

Politics

1 week ago Barbican revamp to give ‘bewildering’ arts centre a new lease of life

Project will make the famously confusing London landmark easier to navigate and more accessible“Everything leaks,” says Philippa Simpson, the director of buildings and renewal at the Barbican, who is standing outside the venue’s lakeside area and inspecting the tired-looking tiles beneath her feet.Water seeps through the cracks into the building below and serves as a reminder of the job facing Simpson and the team who are overhauling the 43-year-old landmark. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK Championship snooker live: Ronnie O’Sullivan suffers shock defeat to Zhou Yuelong

Ronnie O’Sullivan crashed out of the 2025 UK Championship with a 6-4 loss to Zhou Yuelong at the Barbican Centre in York

Events

1 week ago UK Championship snooker live: Ronnie O’Sullivan on the brink of shock defeat to Zhou Yuelong

Ronnie O’Sullivan kick-starts his 2025 UK Championship campaign against Zhou Yuelong at the Barbican Centre in York

Events

1 week ago UK Championship snooker live: Ronnie O’Sullivan in thrilling battle with Zhou Yuelong

Ronnie O’Sullivan kick-starts his 2025 UK Championship campaign against Zhou Yuelong at the Barbican Centre in York

Events

1 week ago UK Championship snooker live: Struggling Ronnie O’Sullivan trailing Zhou Yuelong early on

Ronnie O’Sullivan kick-starts his 2025 UK Championship campaign against Zhou Yuelong at the Barbican Centre in York

Politics

1 week ago UK Championship snooker live: Ronnie O’Sullivan begins pursuit of ninth title against Zhou Yuelong

Ronnie O’Sullivan kick-starts his 2025 UK Championship campaign against Zhou Yuelong at the Barbican Centre in York

Politics

1 week ago UK Championship snooker live: Ronnie O’Sullivan begins pursuit of ninth title

Ronnie O’Sullivan kick-starts his 2025 UK Championship campaign against Zhou Yuelong at the Barbican Centre in York

Politics

2 w. ago UK Championship snooker results, scores and schedule in full

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump are among the players hoping to lift the trophy at the Barbican Centre in York

Sport

4 w. ago Barbican residents rally against ‘monster’ office development they say overshadows iconic brutalist landmark

Residents warn the development would dominate the area, overshadow existing homes and undermine the character of one of the Barbican

Politics