One of London's most iconic yet perplexing cultural venues is set to become significantly easier to navigate. The Barbican Centre, renowned for its sprawling brutalist architecture, has announced a comprehensive £240 million renewal programme that will fundamentally improve how visitors experience the space.
A Labyrinth No More
The Barbican is famously a multi-levelled maze of crisscrossing walkways. While this layout has a certain charm, often leading to unexpected discoveries, it has long been a source of frustration. Visitors frequently find themselves lost, struggling to locate friends or even ending up in the car park when trying to reach a performance.
To solve this, the arts centre will implement a sophisticated new wayfinding system. The project will be led by the design studios Assemble and Designers Unit, who will collaborate with accessibility specialists Tactile Studio. The goal is to create new signage that simplifies navigation while still preserving the sense of adventure the complex is known for.
The Renewal Programme Details
This new wayfinding scheme forms a key part of the Barbican's wider Renewal Programme. Starting in 2027 and concluding by 2030, the ambitious project is primarily funded by the City of London Corporation, which has committed £191 million.
The renewal will extend far beyond signage. Major improvements are planned to make the conservatory and main foyer more accessible. The iconic outdoor ponds will also be revamped as part of this transformative effort to future-proof the centre.
Voices from the Project
Giles Smith, a founding partner at Assemble, expressed his enthusiasm for the task. "It is a wonderful privilege to be working with such an extraordinary and well-loved institution as the Barbican Centre," he said. "We've long been fans of the Centre and its architecture and are looking forward to developing a wayfinding system that helps even more people enjoy its many charms."
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, reinforced the importance of the investment. He recalled that Queen Elizabeth II described the Barbican at its 1982 opening as 'one of the wonders of the modern world'. "To guarantee the Centre's status for decades to come, we're investing £191 million in its renewal," Hayward stated. "This funding will ensure the Square Mile remains a vibrant place where people want to live, work, learn and explore."
The first phase of the Renewal Programme, which will include the new wayfinding system, is scheduled to be delivered over the next few years, marking the beginning of a new, more user-friendly era for this beloved brutalist landmark.
