The Barbican Centre is often described as Marmite: you either love it or hate it.
For some, the massive concrete estate is a ‘soulless’, maze-like ‘hellscape’. But, for others, it’s an ‘architectural treasure’ and ‘one of the wonders of the modern world’.
Yet, despite disagreement, London’s divisive complex has now been named one of Britain’s most beautiful buildings.
Hotel group Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland compiled the 30-strong ranking of buildings by asking 2,000 Brits what structures they believed to be the most stunning across the country.
Buckingham Palace claimed the top spot, with 24% of the votes, and St Paul’s Cathedral came second, taking 21% of the votes. The Tower of London came close behind in third, with 20% of votes.
While not a grand palace, historic castle or stunning church, The Barbican Centre, a Grade II listed building, also made the list, coming in at 27th place, receiving just 4% of votes.
The idea for the Barbican Centre was conceived in the 1940s as part of a post-war regeneration of the area (then known as Cripplegate), which had been almost destroyed during the Blitz.
Construction didn’t begin until the 1960s, with architects Peter ‘Joe’ Chamberlin, Geoffry Powell, and Christoph Bon inspired to create a ‘city within a city’.
Their vision was to build an entire neighbourhood with everything that residents might need – homes, schools, green spaces, art venues, and shops – in one self-contained space that offered both living space and leisure activities.
The project was completed in 1982 after many delays and the centre was inaugurated by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who described it as ‘one of the wonders of the modern world’.
The result has been described as a ‘striking example of Brutalist architecture’, with raw concrete and bold geometric designs.
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The complex itself spans 40 acres and consists of 19 housing blocks, which provide around 2,000 homes, including flats, tower blocks, mews and townhouses.
The estate features a network of raised walkways that separate pedestrians from traffic, multiple theatres, cafes, a concert hall, a cinema and an art gallery.
It also houses the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, a large public library, and a conservatory filled with tropical plants, with large water gardens and terraces surrounding the facilities.
But despite the countless amenities and long history, the colossal complex has long divided those who gaze upon it, and was declared ‘London’s ugliest building’ in 2003.
One Tripadvisor review of the site, left by Greg S, claimed the site is an ‘incoherent mess’ and ‘needs demolishing’.
He wrote: ‘[There are] enough stairs to give Escher nightmares. Vast open spaces which make little sense. The two tube stations aren’t close, and the route to the Barbican is an unpleasant concrete hellscape.’
Another review, left by ‘LCPUSA’ said: ‘I do not know if I am offending Londoners by saying so, but the Barbican was the worst visit in London. It is a massive housing complex, with theatres inside. I had the impression I was visiting something from the Soviet era or a super-block in the city of Brasilia. Not interesting at all.’
One reviewer ‘micm0nr0’ claimed: ‘Whoever designed the Barbican Centre was not in their right mind.’
Meanwhile, user ‘Death Trip’ asked: ‘Why did someone build such a horrible-looking building?’, and reviewer ‘Whichweay’ echoed: ‘It is soulless and not an attractive venue.’
Others, however, are much more protective of the Brutalist building. Reviewer ‘petersM5407YA’ described it as ‘one of the bravest and most striking pieces of public architecture the country has to offer’.
‘The Florentine Prince’ dubbed it an ‘impressive example of brutal architecture’.
They wrote: ‘[It’s an] impressive example of brutal architecture. I have visited it for several reasons: movie theatre, library, running and chilling. I have never been disappointed. Hence, I highly suggest visiting this unique forest of concrete.’
The Barbican itself is also self-assured, with its website dubbing it as ‘one of the UK’s architectural treasures’.
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Britain’s top 30 most beautiful buildings
The list of hotels was compiled by Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, based on a survey of 2,000 Brits.
- Buckingham Palace – 24%
- St Paul’s Cathedral – 21%
- Tower of London – 20%
- York Minster – 18%
- Westminster Abbey – 16%
- Warwick Castle – 13%
- Houses of Parliament – 11%
- The Shard in London – 10%
- Shambles in York – 10%
- Eden Project in Cornwall – 10%
- The Royal Pavilion in Brighton – 9%
- Salisbury Cathedral – 9%
- Bath’s Royal Crescent – 9%
- Bath Abbey – 8%
- Durham Cathedral – 8%
- Cardiff Castle – 8%
- Lincoln Cathedral – 8%
- Blackpool Tower – 7%
- Whitby Abbey – 7%
- Caernarfon Castle – 7%
- Kings Cross Station – 6%
- Liver Building in Liverpool – 6%
- Conwy Castle – 6%
- The Great Court at the British Museum – 5%
- Highclere Castle in Hampshire – 4%
- Battersea Power Station – 4%
- Barbican Centre in London – 4%
- Bodleian Abbey in Oxford – 3%
- Winter Gardens in Sheffield – 3%
- Central Chambers in Glasgow – 3%
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