Tag: barbican | ArchDaily

In Other Worlds by Liam Young Reimagines Cities, Landscapes, and Climate Futures at the Barbican Centre

Reyyan Dogan — Fri, 08 May 2026 06:30:00 +0000

The Barbican Centre has announced In Other Worlds, a major immersive exhibition by speculative architect, filmmaker, and artist Liam Young, opening from May 21 through September 6, 2026. Occupying three distinct locations within the Barbican complex, the Silk Street Entrance, The Curve gallery, and Car Park 5, the exhibition will transform the Brutalist cultural landmark into a sequence of cinematic environments examining architecture, infrastructure, climate futures, and planetary urbanism. Developed in collaboration with writers, scientists, filmmakers, musicians, and performers, the project brings together large-scale projections, LED installations, sound environments, graphic narratives, costumes, and speculative artifacts to explore how fiction and spatial storytelling can shape conversations around environmental and technological change.

From Housing Policy in Europe to Large-Scale Master Planning in Mongolia: This Week’s Review

Antonia Piñeiro — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:30:00 +0000

This week's review focuses on concrete responses to shared urban challenges, including housing affordability, long-term resilience, and the role of cultural and material innovation in shaping cities. The selection spans regulatory measures affecting housing markets in European cities, high-density residential and mixed-income proposals in New York, and major renewal and planning efforts in London, Barcelona, Ulaanbaatar, and Drammen. It also highlights research-driven and built projects in Chicago, Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, and Riyadh that explore circular construction, adaptive reuse, and new models for cultural and public infrastructure. Together, these worldwide projects offer a snapshot of how architecture and urban planning are addressing immediate pressures while laying the groundwork for more resilient and inclusive urban futures across diverse geographic and cultural contexts.

Barbican Center Renewal Program Moves Forward to Secure the Future of London’s Brutalist Legacy

Reyyan Dogan — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:30:00 +0000

The City of London Corporation has formally approved the delivery plan for the renewal of the Barbican Centre, confirming a £191 million investment to support the first five-year phase of a long-term transformation programme. Approved in December 2025, the decision secures funding for major repairs, infrastructure upgrades, and public space improvements across the Grade II-listed complex. Subject to planning permission, major construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion of this phase targeted for 2030, ahead of the Barbican's 50th anniversary. To facilitate the works, most programmes within the Centre will pause for approximately one year between June 2028 and June 2029, while preparatory upgrades, including essential works to the Barbican Theatre, are set to begin in early 2026.

Zaha Hadid Architects Develop 3D-Printed Habitats to Support Marine Ecosystem Restoration

Antonia Piñeiro — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Zaha Hadid Architects' design for a digitally fabricated marine habitat in the North Lantau Marine Park conservation zone in Hong Kong was recently presented at the World Design Congress exhibition in London. The event took place at the Barbican Centre between September 9 and 10, one of the world's most recognized examples of Brutalist architecture. Its theme, "Design for Planet," called on designers and commissioners of design to take on their most critical brief to date: to design a regenerative future in the face of climate change and to examine design's role as a tool for environmental action. In this context, Zaha Hadid Architects presented Nereid, a digitally fabricated habitat developed with advanced 3D printing technologies by D-Shape, aimed at supporting the natural regeneration of marine ecosystems.

The Museum of London: Exploring the Brutalist Landmark Facing Demolition

Paul Yakubu — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Nestled within the junction of London Wall and Aldersgate Street in the Barbican district of the City of London lies the Museum of London. Built in 1977, the brutalist building was home to the world's largest urban history collection, with more than six million objects curated to highlight London's social history. The museum has been closed for over two years with plans for relocation, while its historic building faces demolition to make way for a new development—the London Wall West scheme. This has sparked mixed reactions from London residents and people across the country, with calls to review the proposed design and campaigns favoring retrofit over the demolition of this unique modernist building. Photographer Arnolt Smead recently visited the museum to capture its beautiful architectural moments and highlight its unique features.

The Barbican Center to Undergo Major Renewal and Upgrade, Planned to Begin First Phase in 2027

Maria-Cristina Florian — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:30:00 +0000

The City of London Corporation has approved a £191 million funding package for the first phase of the Barbican Centre's five-year renewal program. The initiative is aimed at addressing critical repairs and upgrades to this Grade II-listed venue, including improvements to accessibility, energy efficiency, and overall functionality of its aging infrastructure. The Barbican Renewal began in 2021 with an international competition for the multi-disciplinary design team to lead the efforts. In 2022, Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio, and Buro Happold were selected, in collaboration with specialists in sustainability, heritage, landscaping, lighting design, acoustics, and more.

London Architecture City Guide: 20 Modern and Contemporary Attractions to Explore in UK’s Cultural and Financial Powerhouse

Maria-Cristina Florian — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:30:00 +0000

London’s architectural history is a rich tapestry that weaves together styles of various periods and influences. In the post-war era, the city experienced a surge in modern architecture, becoming a canvas for experimentation. New stylistic movements saw their expression crystalized through buildings such as Richard Rogers’ Lloyd’s Building, one of the most representative examples of High-Tech architecture, or the Barbican Estate, a large-scale housing estate that became the iconic structure for Brutalist architecture.

The Architectural Legacy of Queen Elizabeth’s 70 Year Reign

Maria-Cristina Florian — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 07:30:00 +0000

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch, has passed away at Balmoral Castle, aged 96. Earlier this year, Her Majesty became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since her ascension to the throne. During her coronation, the first ceremony of this type to be televised, newspapers and tv broadcasters talked about a “New Elizabethan Age” that would revive Britain from postwar gloom. Now, seven decades later, as the longest reign in British history has come to an end, people come together to honor The Queen and reflect upon her legacy in terms of culture, technology, and architecture.

Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio Selected to Design UK's Barbican Centre Refurbishment

Dima Stouhi — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 08:00:00 +0000

A collaborative design team led by Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio has been selected to renew the famed Barbican Centre in London, United Kingdom. The winning design proposal preserves the building’s original architectural language and provides new opportunities for the center's diverse community of artists, audiences, and partners, boosting the building’s accessibility and performance quality.

BIG, Adjaye Associates, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Asif Khan Studio Are Among the Shortlisted Practices for Barbican Centre's Refurbishment

Andreea Cutieru — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:30:00 +0000

The Barbican Centre is up for a substantial renovation, and the City of London Corporation revealed the five shortlisted teams for the refurbishment of the Brutalist icon, among which are practices like BIG, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Adjaye Associates or Asif Khan Studio. The cultural venue at the heart of the eponymous post-war housing estate in central London was the subject of an international competition aiming to preserve its heritage while upgrading the ageing structure to contemporary requirements and artistic aspirations.

Architecture on Stage: OFFICE KGDVS

Rene Submissions — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:56:00 +0000

Belgium's renowned architectural practice OFFICE KGDVS joins The Architecture Foundation to discuss their recent projects and urbanist design.

Founded in 2002, the Brussels-based OFFICE Kersten Geers David van Severen has established a global reputation as one of the most original and influential architectural practices of its generation. Completed projects include the Solo House in Matarraña, Spain and the Traditional Music Centre in Bahrain (both 2017) while construction is soon set to commence on the practice's design for the headquarters of the Swiss Radio and Television Company on the campus of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Architecture on Stage: Sauter von Moos

Katherine Allen — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 03:30:00 +0000

Hear from Swiss architecture practice Sauter von Moos as they lecture on their practice's works.

Architecture on Stage: Lütjens Padmanabhan

Katherine Allen — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 03:30:00 +0000

Join us as the founders of the Swiss architecture practice present their recent work.

Architecture on Stage: Hans van der Heijden

Katherine Allen — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 03:30:00 +0000

The Dutch architect and urbanist Hans van der Heijden will speak about his recent projects and their engagement with the city and its streets.

Architecture on Stage: Christ & Gantenbein

Katherine Allen — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 03:30:00 +0000

The practice of acclaimed Swiss architect duo Christ and Gantenbein will join together on stage to discuss past and future projects.

Architecture on Stage: David Kohn

Katherine Allen — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 03:30:00 +0000

David Kohn, founder of his own architectural practice, will discuss past and future projects from his office.

Architecture on Stage: Forensic Architecture

Katherine Allen — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 03:30:00 +0000

Eyal Weizman, director of Forensic Architecture, will lecture at the Barbican in cooperation with The Architecture Foundation discuss the group's practice combining architecture and digital forensics.

Architecture on Stage: Amin Taha

Katherine Allen — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 03:00:00 +0000

Amin Taha, alumni of the office of Zaha Hadid, will speak at the Barbican to discuss his practice, Groupwork+Amin Taha.