The Barbican Conservatory

Discover our oasis in the heart of the City

The Barbican Centre (1980-03-10/1980-03-10) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre

The Conservatory

The Conservatory is one of the Barbican Centre’s best-loved spots: an oasis of greenery in the middle of the City.

The Conservatory

This archive photo shows what the Conservatory looked like in 1982 after it had first been planted.

Barbican Conservatory by Max ColsonBarbican Centre

The Conservatory

It looks a lot more lush today.

Barbican Arts Centre Consrvatory Roof Plan (1969) by Chamberlin, Powell & BonBarbican Centre

The Conservatory

This drawing shows the Conservatory from above.

The Barbican Centre (1980-01-06/1980-01-06) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre

The Conservatory

What’s less commonly known is that the idea for the conservatory came partly from the need to screen the uglier shape of the fly tower for the Theatre below.

The Barbican Centre (1980-02-22/1980-02-22) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre

The hidden flytower

A flytower is a structure which houses the various curtains and pieces of scenery which are suspended above the stage, to be dropped down at dramatic moments in the performance, or, in case of fire, to protect the audience, the cast, and the building at large.

Barbican Arts Centre Conservtory Elevation North (1969) by Chamberlin, Powell & BonBarbican Centre

The Conservatory and the Fly Tower

Here you can see an overview of how the Conservatory and the Theatre's Fly Tower connect

The Barbican Centre (1980-01-11/1980-01-11) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre

The Conservatory and the Fly Tower

This photo shows the fly tower structure, on the left, just after the Barbican had been constructed.

Barbican Conservatory by Max ColsonBarbican Centre

The Conservatory and the Fly Tower

And the structure today, covered in greenery. The Conservatory now houses around 1,500 species of plants and trees, along with ponds for fish and terrapins.

Discover more about our conservatory today

Tap to explore

View of the Barbican Conservatory from the podium

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Lose Yourself in the Barbican
An adventure through London’s icon of Brutalist architecture
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites