An Introduction to the Barbican and our Archive
Learn about our collaboration with Google Arts and Culture
The Barbican Centre (1980-02-16/1980-02-16) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre
Introducing the Barbican
The Barbican is a Grade-II listed Arts Centre and residential Estate in the City of London.
Barbican Lakeside Terrace by Max ColsonBarbican Centre
Begun in 1962 and completed in 1982, it is now a global icon of Brutalist architecture.
Photographic Contact Sheet of Arts Centre Interiors and Exteriors. (1979) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre
Our Archive tells the story of the Barbican through our collection of architectural plans, photographs, graphic design, drawings, programming ephemera and objects.
Digitising the Barbican Archive (2022)Barbican Centre
Our partnership with Google Arts and Culture has involved digitising over 3,500 images of objects and documents from our Archive,
Digitising the Barbican Archive (2022)Barbican Centre
and creating 60 stories bringing them to life.
Aerial Photographs of the Barbican. (1979) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre
The stories covered include the origins of the Barbican’s design, what has happened in the buildings and how they got built.
Blocks XIV & XV South Elevation (1963) by Corporation of LondonBarbican Centre
Two important parts of the Archive collection are the original plans for the Barbican
Photograph of Installed Directional Signs: Barbican Hall, Theatre by Ken Briggs & AssociatesBarbican Centre
and records showing the Barbican's first visual identity.
General Information: Colour Reference: 2/8.2 (1980) by Ken Briggs & AssociatesBarbican Centre
Along with later reimaginings of the Barbican, with new signs, new logos and new ideas about what should happen here.
Andrewes House: Sales Brochure - Page 1/12 by Corporation of London and Barbican Estate OfficeBarbican Centre
We have also digitised items which show the early history of the Barbican Estate.
First London Symphony Orchestra Acoustic Test with Ivan Fischer at Barbican Hall. (1980) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre
If you would like to get in touch about the collection, you can email us at archives@barbican.org.uk
Photographic Contact Sheet of Arts Centre Interiors and Exteriors. (1979) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre
You can browse the collection or dive into our stories highlighting themes from our Archive.
