Barbican Sculpture Court Set for Major Accessibility & Green Revamp
The Barbican Centre, a cornerstone of London’s arts since 1982, is embarking on a comprehensive renovation, with a significant focus on its Sculpture Court. This one-acre courtyard, nestled above the Concert Hall and framed by Frobisher Crescent, is slated for a major “glow-up.” Currently, despite occasional use for outdoor cinema and upcoming public art commissions, the space suffers from critical drawbacks including limited accessibility, deteriorating infrastructure, and inadequate seating. These issues have led to its underutilization by the public and necessitate urgent conservation work that impacts the hall below.
The planned revamp, overseen by architects Allies and Morrison and engineers Buro Happold, aims to reawaken the Sculpture Court and integrate it back into daily civic life. Key improvements will address its current deficiencies, offering substantial benefits to visitors. Accessibility will be dramatically enhanced through the introduction of wide, gently sloping ramps and an abundance of new seating options. Aesthetically, the court will receive fresh brickwork and updated lighting, meticulously designed to honour its original 1980s character. Furthermore, the environmental aspect is paramount, with over two thousand new plants—chosen for their resilience to warmer summers and wetter winters—to be installed in large, integrated brick planters.
The overarching vision for the renovated Sculpture Court is to create a beautiful, flexible, and accessible environment where individuals can pause, gather, and engage with art, architecture, and nature. This transformation seeks not only to resolve urgent conservation requirements but also to revitalise the space as a vibrant public amenity. Historically, the Sculpture Court was a more active venue, hosting diverse events in the 1980s, such as ‘May Day Madness’ featuring puppets, clowns, and folk dancing, alongside theatrical productions like Hamlet. The renovation, scheduled to begin in June 2028 and last for a year, aims to recapture this dynamic spirit, with a public consultation on the plans running until February 10, 2026.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/news/barbican-sculpture-court-renovation)
