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Brutal beauty: this new book celebrates the life of the Barbican

London’s concrete heart, the Barbican, turns 40 this year

Chiara Wilkinson
Written by
Chiara Wilkinson
Deputy Editor, UK
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With its towering walkways and waterside terraces, hidden rooftop oasis and jutting overhangs, the Barbican is London’s own temple to concrete. Once an incredibly polarising structure, these days the Barbican is almost universally loved by all Londoners.

The Barbican birds eye
Photograph: Neil Perry

After bringing so much debate, culture and, well, grey to our city, this strange but iconic complex is turning 40 this year. It stands as Europe’s largest multi-arts centre: a place where music, visual art, theatre, and film exist all at once.

Now, a new book, ‘Building Utopia’, celebrates everything it stands for, through never-before-seen photographs, criticism and archival material:

The Barbican posters
Image: Barbican Archive
The Barbican
Photograph: Peter Bloomfield
The Barbican
Photograph: Barbican Archive

So what are you waiting for? Get down there and show some love to this beautiful, brutalist beast.

‘Building Utopia: The Barbican Centre’, compiled by Nicholas Kenyon, costs £40 and is available here

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