The Barbican arts centre is set to undergo a £451m overhaul, with the first phase costing £231m. The project, which aims to give the 43-year-old landmark a "new lease of life", will transform the building's tired and confusing layout into a more welcoming and inclusive space.
For director of buildings and renewal Philippa Simpson, the task is daunting, but she has taken on similar challenges before at the Young V&A. She hopes that the revamped centre will be finished in time for its 50th anniversary in 2032. However, the project's scope and scale make it a "messy" job.
The Barbican's labyrinthine layout has become notorious among visitors over the years. Stanley Tucci and David Dimbleby once got lost, while Sir Ranulph Fiennes had to climb a wall to get in. The explorer was eventually found wandering on the fourth floor trying to find the Fountain Room, which is actually located on the ground floor.
Accessibility groups have long expressed frustration with the centre's signage scheme, which they say is often confusing and hard to follow. The team is now working to create a new scheme that will replace the four in use currently.
The project's biggest challenge may be making the civic space usable for everyone. How do you make it fully permissive, fully open, fully inclusive? It's a question that director of design at Assemble, Jaymi Sudra, asks herself every day.
Comprising a theatre, concert space, art gallery and conservatory, the Barbican has been celebrated as a well-executed vision of mid-century communal living. But it is severely lacking by modern design standards.
The Silk Street entrance, which for many is considered the "front" of the building, is actually located at the back. The huge doors facing the lakeside are technically the main entrance. Walkways loom over spaces, and secret corridors for residents add to the confusion.
One of Sudra's biggest jobs is creating a new signage scheme that will replace the four in use currently. They often clash and accessibility groups say they are hard for people to follow. Now all but the original (and listed) Ken Briggs signs are being removed.
As construction begins in 2027, Simpson hopes that a new – more accessible – era begins for the Barbican arts centre. The project promises to give this iconic part of London's skyline and creative life a much-needed "new lease of life".
For director of buildings and renewal Philippa Simpson, the task is daunting, but she has taken on similar challenges before at the Young V&A. She hopes that the revamped centre will be finished in time for its 50th anniversary in 2032. However, the project's scope and scale make it a "messy" job.
The Barbican's labyrinthine layout has become notorious among visitors over the years. Stanley Tucci and David Dimbleby once got lost, while Sir Ranulph Fiennes had to climb a wall to get in. The explorer was eventually found wandering on the fourth floor trying to find the Fountain Room, which is actually located on the ground floor.
Accessibility groups have long expressed frustration with the centre's signage scheme, which they say is often confusing and hard to follow. The team is now working to create a new scheme that will replace the four in use currently.
The project's biggest challenge may be making the civic space usable for everyone. How do you make it fully permissive, fully open, fully inclusive? It's a question that director of design at Assemble, Jaymi Sudra, asks herself every day.
Comprising a theatre, concert space, art gallery and conservatory, the Barbican has been celebrated as a well-executed vision of mid-century communal living. But it is severely lacking by modern design standards.
The Silk Street entrance, which for many is considered the "front" of the building, is actually located at the back. The huge doors facing the lakeside are technically the main entrance. Walkways loom over spaces, and secret corridors for residents add to the confusion.
One of Sudra's biggest jobs is creating a new signage scheme that will replace the four in use currently. They often clash and accessibility groups say they are hard for people to follow. Now all but the original (and listed) Ken Briggs signs are being removed.
As construction begins in 2027, Simpson hopes that a new – more accessible – era begins for the Barbican arts centre. The project promises to give this iconic part of London's skyline and creative life a much-needed "new lease of life".
! £451m is a huge investment, but it's going to be worth it in the end. I mean, who hasn't gotten lost in that crazy layout? 
It's time for a fresh start and a more inclusive space for everyone. Accessibility groups have been voicing their concerns for ages, so it's great to see changes being made. Let's hope they can make it work by 2032, that's just 5 years away! 
Jaymi Sudra is literally my spirit animal, I need someone with her design skills on this project ASAP 
£451m overhaul is crazy! I mean, it's not like they're building a whole new building from scratch or anything 
. Accessibility groups have been complaining about those signage schemes for ages. It's like they expected everyone to be Sherlock Holmes 
i feel so bad for people who have gotten lost at the barbican before 
like stanley tucci and david dimbleby, poor guys! 
. i'm all for making it more inclusive and permissive, but how do you make that happen without losing the charm of the place? 
.
. So, kudos to them for acknowledging the problem and trying to fix it.
. In my day, we didn't have that kind of money to throw around 
. We just made do with scraps and whatnot. Still, I guess if anyone can pull off a renovation of this scope and scale, the Barbican team can 
.
. Can you imagine seeing that old building all spruced up and looking like new again? 
It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!
. I mean, it's got character, right? All that labyrinthine layout is what makes it so... interesting. And who needs signs to follow when you can just get lost like Stanley Tucci and David Dimbleby did 
. It's all part of the charm.
.
. Accessibility groups have been whining about those dodgy signage schemes for ages, and now they're getting a revamp 
. Jaymi Sudra's got some big shoes to fill, but I'm all about that inclusive vibes 
. Can't wait to see the finished result in 2027 
. And on a side note, who knew Sir Ranulph Fiennes had to climb a wall to get into the centre? 
but seriously tho, i hope they get it done by 2032 or sumthin
. They gotta sort out that labyrinthine layout, it's like they're trying to torture tourists 
. And accessibility? Forget about it 
.
. She's all about creating an inclusive space that doesn't make people feel like they're stuck in some weird sci-fi movie 
.
!
i hope philippa simpson and teamJaymi Sudra succeed in making it fully permissive, inclusive, and open to everyone 
50th anniversary in 2032 cant wait to see the results! 
. Maybe by 2032, it'll be tolerable...
i mean its supposed to be a civic space, not some maze with hidden passages and secret corridors 
Why can't they just simplify things and use some good ol' fashioned clear signage? 
Accessibility groups have been complaining about this for ages, so yeah, I get why they're excited about the changes, but £231m is still a lot of dosh 
. £451m is a crazy amount of cash, but if it means making the Barbican accessible to everyone that's gotta be worth it 
. It's like trying to put a square peg in a round hole