The Hanging Gardens of Barbican
One of the wonders of the modern world
Last week, on an ‘Inspiration Jaunt’1 to London, I was taking another walk round the discarded Museum of London and Bastion House site. It was recently approved for demolition2 and I am sadly photographing it for posterity (more on that in a later post).
Given the number of photos I have, I almost didn’t take the short pedway to the neighbouring Barbican. What new view would I possibly see?
But I’m glad I did. The estate was in full bloom and the sun shone.
The Blitz3 destroyed most of this part of London. Out of the ashes grew the biggest redevelopment scheme in Europe at the time. It is one of Londonʼs most ambitious and unique architectural achievements.
At its opening in 1972, Queen Elizabeth II said “What has been created here must be one of the wonders of the modern world".
Designed as a city within a city it houses 4000 residents, two schools, a church, a library, a lake, a conservatory and an arts centre.4
This is an example of how a 1960s brutalist project can look, when it is built with quality materials and is properly maintained.
There is no monotony. Textures range from smooth to rough. There are half a mile of pedways which are narrow or wide, covered or uncovered. Some offer glimpses; others wide vistas. Buildings are high and low, taking on different shapes depending on the angle you approach them from.
And still we have one survivor from the Blitz, the Gothic Church of St Giles-without-Cripplegate5. Nestling comfortably amongst its modern neighbours.
Behind is the aforementioned Bastion House. Will Noble amusingly wrote in @londonist_com:
“…. it looks like the world's biggest broken flight departures board, or the Evil Headquarters of an Evil Corporation where Evil People think up Evil Ideas.” Which is why I like it so much.
I take an inspiration jaunt every few weeks. It normally involves a day trip, on my own, to London where I walk and walk and walk. Camera in hand. I’ll also pop into an exhibition or two. I take time to watch the bustling city go by, closely look at how ads on the Tube communicate their wares, be inspired by art and return home energised and with new ideas.
The Twentieth Century Society put the Museum of London and Bastion House on their Buildings At Risk list: https://c20society.org.uk/buildings-at-risk/museum-of-london-bastion-house-city-of-london
The Blitz was a mass bombing campaign conducted by the Nazis on British cities between 1940-41: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz
On this visit, Ibrahim Mahama’s Purple Hibiscus enrobed part of the Arts Centre: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2024/event/ibrahim-mahama-purple-hibiscus
The church was gutted in The Blitz but restored using plans from 1545: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Giles-without-Cripplegate
This is SO good. A great read on a great part of London. I used to work in the Barbican Arts Centre when I lived in London, and would head into their library at lunchtime, to play their piano. It just felt like a very welcoming, friendly space — I've now lived out of London for five years, but this is one part of the city I miss the most.
Ohh, I wish I knew. I live in the Barbican. Would have brought you into the garden(s)! Let me know next time you're here.