Photograph of Hugh Denning and George VineBarbican Centre
The Plans Collection
Before computers were used for everything, a construction project as vast and time-consuming as the Barbican produced a huge amount of paperwork. The Barbican's architects, Chamberlin, Powell & Bon, discarded much of their paper archive when their office eventually closed.
The Barbican Centre (1980-02-14/1980-02-14) by Peter BloomfieldBarbican Centre
The Plans Collection
However, a collection of plans, drawings and technical diagrams remained on-site at the Barbican.
Buildings: Barbican Redevelopment: Site Layout Plan at Level 116' (1959) by Chamberlin, Powell & BonBarbican Centre
The Plans Collection
We owe their survival to the Barbican Residents’ Plans Group, a small group of knowledgeable and dedicated individuals who ensured the safety and care of the collection for many years.
Digitising the Barbican Archive (2022)Barbican Centre
The Plans Collection
The collection consists of thousands of oversized paper items. When the Plans Group first took custody of the collection, it was not organised and was difficult to make sense of.
Barbican Layout: Exisiting Ward Boundaries Proposed Ward Boundaries (1967) by Corporation of LondonBarbican Centre
The Plans Collection
Thanks to the expertise of the Plans Group, they were able to crack the code of how the collection needed to be ordered. They worked out that the numbering system on each document corresponded to a phase of the building project.
The Plans Collection
Take a look at this diagram. It shows a bird's eye view of the Barbican site. The site has been divided up using coloured markers, with each area given a number.
Phase One
Phase Two
Phase Three
Phase Four
Phase Five (sometimes including Phase Five A or Phase Six)
Different phases of the project were assigned to different construction companies.
Plan of Completed Phases by Chamberlin, Powell and BonBarbican Centre
Here is another version of the plan which shows how the site was divided up into sections.
Here you can see how each section was assigned to a different construction company.
This plan also records when each section was completed.
Jack Waller Scrapbook Page 33 of Jack Waller scrapbook (1959) by Jack WallerBarbican Centre
This newspaper clipping also summarises the phases of construction.
Understanding the Plans Collection
The numbers assigned to each area match up with numbers found on the Plans Collection documents and drawings.
Understanding the Plans Collection
For example, if a drawing had 'Phase 5' written on it, we know it relates to the arts centre, by referring to the earlier colourful diagram.
Digitising the Barbican Archive (2022)Barbican Centre
Sharing the Plans Collection
With all this information, the Barbican Residents' Plans Group were able to put the majority of the Plans Collection in order. The group gave up their own time to take on this monumental task.
Sharing the Plans Collection
Thanks to the hard work of the Plans Group, it is now possible for more people to access drawings and diagrams of the Barbican.
Sharing the Plans Collection
Want to see more? Find out more about this colourful Barbican roof plan here.
With thanks to the Barbican Residents' Plans Group
