The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
The New Barbican?
There have been various attempts to redesign the Barbican Centre’s public spaces over the years: sometimes for reasons of fashion, sometimes to try to stop people getting lost.
The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
This report, ‘The New Barbican’, was commissioned during the tenure of Detta O’Cathain, the Centre’s second Managing Director. It was produced by Theo Crosby of the design firm Pentagram.
The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
Pentagram’s 1991 proposal included some suggestions which were not adopted.
The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
Staff members were never made to wear these outfits while greeting the public.
Or these ones.
The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
Some of the suggestions were adopted and remain to this day: mainly around renumbering the floors to aid navigation.
Photograph of Installed Sign: Level 5 by Ken Briggs & AssociatesBarbican Centre
On Crosby’s suggestion, what had been ‘Level 5’ was renamed as the Ground Floor.
The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
The drawings in Pentagram’s proposal were by the artist Polly Hope, who was also the wife of Pentagram’s co-founder Theo Crosby.
The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 The New Barbican: a feasibility study: Pentagram March 1991 (1991) by Pentagram AssociatesBarbican Centre
Hope also created a mural for the Barbican foyers.
Reburbishment Wall Mural (1994)Barbican Centre
It was Pointillist in style – created from many coloured dots together.
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (1884-1886) by Georges SeuratThe Art Institute of Chicago
Pointillism
Painter Georges Seurat developed the technique of Pointillism in the 19th century, as seen here in his painting A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (1884).
Reburbishment Wall and Ceiling Mural (1994)Barbican Centre
Here you can see the Barbican's Pointillist mural being installed in the bar areas.
Reburbishment Wall and Ceiling Mural (1994)Barbican Centre
Unfortunately the mural was removed several years later, along with other elements of the redesign such as the Barbican Muses.
