Building the Brutal

The Barbican Lakeside was once the main entrance to the Centre, accessible through an elevated series of pathways, known as the 'highwalks' that were intended to run through the City of London.

Architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon were inspired by Le Corbusier and Brutalism in the design but they also invented their own style.

While we often fall under ‘Brutalism', the truth is the design was influenced by many architectural styles. You’ll spot features of Modernist, Mediterranean, Roman and even Medieval architecture.

With the Conservatory located above the main entrance to the Barbican Centre, the plants and trees had to be lifted from the road by a crane.

The Barbican Conservatory is home to hundreds of species of tropical flora and fauna and is open for the public to visit every Sunday.

The fly system is used for everything that moves on stage – for example raising backdrops or set.

Using winches, motors, hydraulics and pneumatics we move, lift, turn, control the weather and even fly people in and out of the set

The Barbican Theatre has 1,110 seats and was designed as such that no seat is ever more than 21 metres away from the stage.

You’ll notice we have no central aisle in our Theatre auditorium. Each row of seats is closed off with its own individual door which closes by magnet as the curtain is about to rise.

This effect was created by hand-powered pneumatic drills, creating a rough surface but, thanks to the black granite aggregate material in the concrete, when chipped, shimmers and sparkles in the light.

The Barbican is made from 130,000 cubic metres of concrete, enough to build over 19 miles of a six-lane motorway

The Hall stage can hold an orchestra of up to 110 players and when the forestage is extended, a chorus of up to 200

The Hall is encased by a 3 metre thick wall that supports the arts centre – and also explains The Curve gallery which lies beneath.

The Barbican Centre was opened by HM The Queen on 3 March, with a performance by Resident Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy.

The Art Gallery’s inaugural show was 'Aftermath' and featured works by Matisse, Picasso and Braque.

Lying beneath the Sculpture Court is the Concert Hall. Now, the Sculpture Court is a peaceful garden filled with seats and plants.

The ridges you see in this photo of the Stalls foyers are the seats, curving around the Concert Hall.

While this particular sculpture is no longer on display in the Barbican, you will find many installations decorating our public spaces, from light sculpture to interactive video art.

There are over 75 miles of pipes running through the Barbican Centre.

Construction of the Barbican began in 1962 with the first residential flats finished in 1968. In 1971, the City’s Court of Common Council held its longest sitting on record to decide whether to proceed with the arts centre.

‘It’s nearly finished, you’ll go round, you’ll find dirt and dust and mess, but we we want to see the Barbican as it’s going to be in a couple of years’ time' Press Officer Angus Watson briefs Bloomfield

Still a highlight of the City of London calendar, the Barbican Centre and Guildhall School of Music and Drama staff joined the annual Lord Mayor's Show to celebrate the Barbican's arrival.

While they might not be the highest buildings on the City’s skyline, when the towers were first built, the Barbican Towers were the highest residential buildings in Europe.