'Like lipstick on a fabulous gorilla': the Barbican's many gaudy glow-ups and the one to top them all

V

Vivacious V

Like Lipstick on a Fabulous Gorilla: The Barbican's Many Gaudy Glow-Ups and the One to Top Them All

The Barbican, aptly named after its historical purpose as a fortified gateway, has been a stalwart of London's skyline since its opening in 1982. Originally intended to be a catalyst for life back into the city through swish new housing and culture, it has evolved over time, with its arts centre at the heart, becoming an architectural national treasure.

Leaking, crumbling fabric, outdated services, and accessibility issues have plagued the Grade II-listed complex for years. Remedial strategies have been tried before, but none have fully addressed the issues, earning the building a reputation as a "starchitect-ified" monolith. However, the latest proposal to upgrade and transform the Barbican promises a more thoughtful approach.

Alies and Morrison, in conjunction with Asif Khan Studio, will oversee a "fabric first" overhaul, prioritizing decarbonization, making good, and fitting for the future. The new design will be a nod to the building's original brutalist charm while incorporating modern sustainability practices. Turner prize-winners Assemble will tackle the challenging task of improving wayfinding.

However, amidst the excitement, concerns have been raised about the proposed development on Silk Street, directly across from the arts centre. Two 20-storey towers designed by American architects SOM threaten to overshadow the Barbican's east end, sparking opposition from residents' groups and heritage bodies. The Twentieth Century Society has called for respect for the building's status as a prominent architectural landmark.

The Barbican's transformation will undoubtedly have an impact on its reputation, both positively and negatively. Will it emerge as a more refined yet still robust representation of London's mid-century modern past? Or will the new additions compromise its integrity? As the renovation progresses, one thing is certain: the Barbican will once again prove itself to be a resilient and captivating presence in the city's skyline.
 
the barbican has been through so much over the years, it's crazy to think about how far it's come but at the same time it's also pretty sad that it's needed all this TLC 🤕💡 i mean can you blame anyone for being concerned about the new additions tho? those towers on silk street do kinda look like they're gonna clash with the barbican's unique vibe 😐 what i hope is that asif khan studio and alies/morrison can somehow strike a balance between modernizing it and preserving its original charm 💫 gotta keep an eye on how this whole renovation unfolds 🌆
 
I'm low-key freaking out over this news 🤯! The Barbican needs an upgrade, no question, but it can't just be about throwing more gaudy glow-ups at it 😂. I mean, who thought 20-storey towers would fit in with the brutalist vibes? 💔 It's like adding a bright pink wig to a fabulous gorilla 🐒 - it's just not gonna work.

I'm all for decarbonization and making good use of space, but let's please prioritize preserving the Barbican's character 🙏. Those wayfinding issues are pretty pressing, btw 👀. If we're gonna overhaul this place, let's do it in a thoughtful, fabric-first approach 💡. I want to see more of that "starchitect-ified" charm, but with a modern twist 😊. The Barbican's got a rep for being an architectural national treasure - let's keep it that way 🌟!
 
🌟 I'm so stoked about the Barbican's proposed makeover! It's about time they tackled those major issues with crumbling fabric and outdated services... it was getting embarrassing 🤦‍♀️. The fact that they're prioritizing decarbonization, accessibility, and sustainability is a huge step in the right direction 🌱. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see some modern tweaks to this iconic building? 🏙️ But I'm also getting a little worried about those two massive towers on Silk Street... they're going to dwarf the entire east end 🤯. Can't we find a way to make them work without losing that unique vibe? 😬
 
🤔 The Barbican's been through so much, and I gotta say, it's about time they gave it a refresh. That brutalist design can't have been the most user-friendly for everyone, especially with all the accessibility issues. A "fabric first" overhaul sounds like just what it needs - decarbonizing and modernizing without losing its unique character is the way forward imo.

But I'm worried about those two 20-storey towers on Silk Street... they do look a bit too much, you know? Like, they're gonna outshine everything else around them. Hopefully, the design team can strike a balance between progress and preservation. Can't wait to see how it all comes together 💡
 
🤔 oh man i feel so bad for the barbican it's like they're trying to put lipstick on a fabulous gorilla but then someone comes along and tries to tack on these huge ugly skyscrapers across from them lol no but seriously though i think its great that there's finally some real planning going into revamping the place after all the leaks and stuff. i mean its already a iconic landmark so you gotta respect that. i just hope they find a way to make it feel more cohesive and not like they're trying to change who they are too much 🤞
 
🤔 I'm loving the sound of this "fabric first" overhaul! 🛠️ It's about time we gave that beautiful building some TLC. I mean, can you imagine all those years of neglect? 😳 But if they can balance keeping its original brutalist charm with modern sustainability practices, it'll be a real game-changer.

I'm also intrigued by the different opinions on the Silk Street development 🤝. On one hand, I get why some might see it as an eyesore, but on the other hand, those 20-storey towers could bring in new life and opportunities to the area 😊. It's all about finding that balance between progress and preserving what we love.

One thing for sure is that the Barbican will always be a statement piece, whether it's loved or not 🗿️. But I think this renovation has the potential to make it shine even brighter. Fingers crossed! 💕
 
I think it's about time they gave the Barbican a bit of a refresh 🤔. I mean, don't get me wrong, its brutalist charm is iconic, but 40+ years old is ancient history 😂. The fact that people are already worried about it losing its integrity when new stuff goes up makes sense though - there's only so much you can do with a building that's been around for decades.

I think it's awesome that they're prioritizing sustainability and decarbonization, that's the way forward! 🌟 And Assemble doing some work on wayfinding is a nice touch. But I'm also a bit miffed about the 20-storey towers across from the arts centre... doesn't seem like the most tasteful addition to me 😐.

Still, I'm curious to see how it all turns out. Fingers crossed that they can strike a balance between old and new, while still keeping the Barbican's unique spirit alive 💪
 
the barbican needs a refresh but not just slapdash makeover 🤦‍♀️ it's all about finding that balance between preserving its brutalist charm and making it more sustainable for the future 💚 i mean, who wants to see some soulless skyscrapers looming over it when they're trying to make a statement as a cultural icon? 🌆 let's hope the new design prioritizes people's needs and doesn't sacrifice accessibility for the sake of aesthetics 🙏
 
I'm low-key excited about the Barbican's potential transformation 🤩. The "fabric first" approach sounds like a great way to address the issues that have been plaguing the building for years, and incorporating modern sustainability practices is totally on point 🌎. But at the same time, I'm kinda worried about how the new developments will affect the area's character. Those two 20-storey towers do look massive compared to the Barbican's east end... it feels like they might be drawing attention away from the building itself 💔. Can we really make sure that the renovation doesn't compromise its unique charm? We'll have to keep an eye on it and hope for the best 🤞.
 
omg i'm so here for this! 👏 they're actually gonna tackle those major issues with a thoughtful approach? like fabric first and decarbonization? 💚 can't wait to see how it turns out, hope they don't lose that brutalist charm 🤞 but 20-storey towers on silk street tho? 😳 that's a big bold move, hope it doesn't overshadow the arts centre too much 🤔 what do u guys think? should they stick with original design or add some new flair? 💬
 
I think it's awesome that they're revamping the Barbican with a "fabric first" approach 🌟. It's time for London's iconic building to get some much-needed love and TLC. The brutalist charm is still so cool, but adding modern sustainability practices will definitely make it more eco-friendly 💚. I'm a bit worried about those 20-storey towers on Silk Street though... they do kinda overshadow the east end 🤔. Hope Assemble gets to improve wayfinding without losing the Barbican's special something 🗺️. This renovation is gonna be huge, and I'm excited to see how it all comes together 💪!
 
🤔 The way they're planning to renovate the Barbican sounds like a breath of fresh air - finally tackling all those issues that have been plaguing it for years. I just hope they don't lose sight of what makes it so iconic in the first place... all these new additions better not make it look like a tacky theme park 🎢💸.
 
im so down for this! i mean who wouldn't want to see some love poured into a london icon like the barbican?! 🤩 they're finally listening to all those ppl complaining about its state, and now they're gonna bring it back to life with somethin kinda cool 😎. gotta be curious about how asif khan studio's "fabric first" approach is gonna work tho... seems like a solid plan 4 tackling the decarbonization & accessibility issues 👌
 
I gotta say, I'm both hyped and skeptical about this new plan for the Barbican 🤔🏙️. On one hand, it sounds amazing that they're prioritizing sustainability and trying to preserve its brutalist charm. The thought of Assemble tackling wayfinding is genius 🔍! But on the other hand, those 20-storey towers on Silk Street are giving me some major anxiety 😩. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good modern development as much as the next person, but can't we find a way to integrate it without overshadowing the Barbican's awesomeness? 🤷‍♀️ And what about those concerns from heritage bodies and residents' groups? Fingers crossed they're heard and respected 💕. One thing's for sure, this is gonna be one wild ride to watch unfold! 🎥
 
omg I'm literally so done with old buildings needing makeovers lol like they're still relevant even tho they've been around for ages my friend at school we were just talking about how some of the old buildings on campus are super creepy but still kinda cool idk what to think about the Barbican tho it sounds like a big project and I hope they do it right cuz it's def gonna be hard to top the original brutalist charm 🤯🏛️
 
🤔 I'm all for giving the Barbican a refresh, but gotta say, I'm a bit concerned about those new towers on Silk Street... 🏙️ They're gonna stick out like a sore thumb, if you ask me. I mean, what happened to preserving the building's original character? Don't get me wrong, modernization is cool and all, but we don't wanna lose that gritty, brutalist charm in the process. Can't they just add some eco-friendly glitz instead of hiding behind those massive skyscrapers? 🌞
 
I feel like this is gonna be a game changer for the Barbican 🤞. I've walked by it countless times and thought it was so iconic but also super neglected. The idea of bringing in some modern sustainability practices while still keeping that brutalist charm is genius 💡. As long as they don't mess with the original structure, I think this could be a huge win for London's skyline. And yeah, I can see why people would be worried about the new towers on Silk Street, but maybe it's time to think outside the box and bring in some fresh perspectives 🤝. Fingers crossed they can pull off a renovation that's more than just a pretty face 😉
 
I think it's kinda weird how ppl are getting upset about somethin that's supposed to improve the place 🤷‍♂️ The new towers on Silk Street might be tall, but if they're done right, they could actually enhance the area and bring in more life to the whole east end 🌆. The Barbican's been stuck in a bit of a time warp for ages, so it's about time someone shook things up 🔄. And let's be real, brutalist architecture isn't all bad – it's got its own charm 😎. As long as they don't mess with the original design too much and make it look like some soulless skyscraper, I think this renovation is gonna be a win-win 💯.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top