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
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View of the Barbican Conservatory from the podium
