The Barbican is a major residential estate, an international arts centre and an oasis of calm in the heart of the City of London. It is one of London’s best kept secrets; whether you’re looking to explore somewhere unique, visit Europe’s largest arts complex under one roof, admire its prominent Brutalist style architecture or see the remains of its Roman heritage.
The area, devastated by enemy bombs during World War II, was rebuilt as the high-end Barbican Estate, completed in the 1980’s. Originally, it was the site of London’s Roman Fort (120AD) (hence its name) built during the Roman occupation of Britain (43AD to 410AD). You can see large stretches of the original roman wall within, and to the south, of the complex.
The Barbican Centre was designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon in the Brutalist style. There’s no doubt it was, and still is, a controversial design. There are modernist proponents and those that think it plain ugly! Judge for yourself from the following photographs. If you go there, you can combine it with a visit to the nearby Museum of London.
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