The Barbican Centre pops in on its neighbour

13 February 2007

The Barbican Centre, voted both London’s best-loved and least-liked building, is celebrating its 25th birthday on 3 March.  A new exhibition Bravo Barbican! 25 Years of Arts in the City, at neighbouring Museum of London, from 17 February to 23 March 2007, explores the extraordinary story of this very singular architectural icon, which has radically altered the cultural landscape of London, as well as its skyline.

Whether your soul is stirred or spirit sapped by its monumental concrete and maze of walkways, Bravo Barbican! offers a fascinating guide through the innovations of utopian sky living and underground entertainment whose influence continues to resonate across the world.  It will let you get your hands on the much maligned fabric of the building and get your head around its place within post-War ideas for urban living.

One of Europe’s largest arts and conference complexes, The Barbican Centre was conceived in the late 50’s, planned in the 60’s, built in the 70’s and opened in 1982.  It stands on a 35 acre site decimated by bombing during one night of the Blitz. The destruction was so great that the area was left almost desert like.

The architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon were charged with drawing people back into the City with a residential precinct of flats, schools, shops and open spaces.  Heavily influenced by Le Corbusier, the architects sketched a Brutalist plan for modernist living and central to their plan was an arts centre, designed as a single self-contained building housing the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Barbican Centre cost £161million to build (equivalent to almost £400 million today). It houses a concert hall, two theatres, three cinemas, two art galleries and a library. There are also three restaurants, a lakeside terrace, tropical conservatory and conference suites. Its hall, main theatre and foyers were inspired by European arts venues built after 1945. Because of height restrictions much of the Centre is below ground level.

As the Queen remarked when she opened it, it is surely ‘one of the wonders of the modern world’.

Facts about The Barbican Centre

• The Barbican Centre contains enough concrete to build 19 miles of six-lane motorway
• When the theatre, hall and cinemas are full, the Barbican Centre seats over 4,000 people.
• It is the home of London’s oldest orchestra  
• The hit musical Les Miserables was first performed at the Barbican Centre on 8 October 1985 by the Royal Shakespeare Company
• Despite the misgivings of those who remain unwarmed by its concrete towers The Barbican Centre’s architecture was awarded Listed Building status in 1981
• The open air lake and spray fountains are used for cooling purposes and contain approximately 1 million gallons of water.

Julia Hoffbrand, curator, comments,  “This exhibition reveals the major role the Barbican Centre has played in bringing new arts and culture to London and reveals the fascinating ideas and vision that lie behind it.”

Bravo Barbican! 25 Years of Arts in the City runs from 17 February 2007. For more information and images please contact:

Marian Williams
tel: 020 7814 5502
email: mwilliams@museumoflondon.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Museum of London tells the lively story of London from pre-historic times to the present day. Find out what Romans ate for dinner, experience the Great Fire of London and find out when pointy shoes first became fashionable.  Reconstructed interiors and street scenes are alternated with displays of original artefacts found in the museum's archaeological digs.
2. From March 2007 to Summer 2009, the museum will be redeveloping its lower galleries to retell the story of London and Londoners from 1666 to the present day.  The £18 million project, which is the largest the Museum has seen since opening in 1976, will revitalize the galleries, open up 25% more gallery space and create a glass frontage overlooking London Wall.  The new galleries will open in 2009 with significantly increased access to the Museum’s objects, both in the galleries and online, and will also include a new Clore Learning Centre, a theatre and the Sackler Hall containing an information zone and coffee point.
3. Throughout the redevelopment work, visitors will continue to be able to discover the city's many incarnations in the London before London, Roman London, and Medieval London galleries, together with London's Burning and a series of topical exhibitions.  A full programme of activities and events for all ages, bringing London's past and present to life, will continue.
4. For more information, including about how to support the project by “buying a year of London’s history” and becoming part of the new display see www.museumoflondon.org.uk/buyayear or call 020 7814 5505.