london's barbican centre announces upcoming closure for renovation

a Brutalist Landmark Pauses

London’s unmistakable Brutalist colossus, the Barbican Centre, is set to pause its regular operations and close its doors for a full year beginning in June 2028 as part of an ambitious renovation program. The project will be led by Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio, and Buro Happold.

The Barbican, a Grade II-listed cultural powerhouse designed by Chamberlin, Powell & Bon and built between 1965 and 1982, has since stood as an iconic mixed-use development with residential, recreational, and cultural facilities. It houses one of Europe’s most celebrated multi-arts portfolios, including the Barbican Art Gallery, Curve, Level 2 Gallery, a world-class concert hall, theatre spaces, cinemas, and the much-loved Conservatory. The building was captured in recent photographs by David Altrath.

images © David Altrath

the year-long ‘barbican renewal programme’

Nearly forty-five years after the centre’s opening, wear and aging infrastructure have begun to show, prompting a renovation dubbed the Barbican Renewal Programme. Led by Asif Khan Studio, Allies and Morrison, and Buro Happold, the extensive overhaul aims at securing the center’s future for decades to come. The project will see key public spaces — from the dramatic foyers and lakeside terrace to the landmark Conservatory — restored and reimagined, while vital infrastructure is modernized to meet contemporary standards of accessibility, sustainability, and creative flexibility.

the centre was designed by Chamberlin, Powell & Bon and built between 1965 and 1982

the renovation: What Will Close and What Will Remain Open

The closure will run from the end of June 2028 until summer 2029. During this time, most of Barbican programs and spaces will be under construction. However, the Barbican cinemas on Beech Street will remain open, and the surrounding residential estate will stay accessible. In addition, creative partnerships and off-site programming are expected to help maintain the Barbican’s cultural presence across London while the walls are quiet.

The City of London Corporation has already committed a £191 million funding package toward the first phase of renewal, representing roughly eighty per cent of the required investment, with the remainder to be raised through a fundraising campaign. This ambitious pause comes at a defining moment with the Barbican’s fiftieth anniversary on the horizon in 2032.

the closure will run from the end of June 2028 until summer 2029