Finding a way into the Barbican

Mapping people and transport

Departure: A3 by Chamberlin, Powell & BonBarbican Centre

Finding a way into the Barbican

Maps are particularly useful for a building like the Barbican, which has a history of getting people lost.

Finding a way into the Barbican

Frank Woods, an architect who worked for Chamberlin Powell & Bon and later became a partner, pointed out that it was designed as a neighbourhood, and neighbourhoods don’t have entrances.

Artists Impression of Direction around Arts Centre Frobisher CrescentBarbican Centre

Navigating the Barbican

Each generation of Barbican management has tried to deal with there being no single obvious entrance to the Centre. 

Navigating the Barbican

This early diagram shows how pedestrians would circulate around the Estate and Centre from the tube stations.

Navigating the Barbican

The nearest stations are Barbican

Navigating the Barbican

and Moorgate.

Phase V Internal Traffic Circulation (1967) by Chamberlin, Powell & BonBarbican Centre

Traffic and the Barbican

This diagram looks at traffic flow around the Barbican Centre, working out how different visitors would move around.

Traffic and the Barbican

The different colour lines refer to visitors, taxis, performers, staff and residents.

Traffic and the Barbican

The confused pencil scribbles in this part of the diagram foreshadow the future difficulties visitors would have finding their way around the Barbican!

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The Yellow Line

Visitors will also still see a yellow line running across the highwalks - an early attempt at helping visitors navigate the Barbican. If you follow the line from Barbican station you will end up at the Centre.

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