Barbican Estate

Barbican Estate is a residential complex in the brutalist style made of exposed concrete in central London, spanning several hectares and ranging from low-rise housing blocks to three tall towers. Raised concrete walkways connect the buildings and pass over planted levels divided by water features and terraces.

The site lay in ruins for years after German air raids during World War II, until the city decided to build a new residential neighborhood here. Work began in the mid-1960s and stretched over more than a decade as the architects tried to combine dense development with public open spaces.

The name derives from a medieval watchtower that once guarded the Roman city wall at this spot. Today people from many countries live here, walking to work along the elevated paths or strolling through the communal gardens between the courtyards.

The raised walkways can feel confusing at first as they branch in different directions and shift between levels. A walk along the waterways and through the planted courtyards helps to understand how the buildings are arranged.

A small glasshouse inside holds tropical trees and plants that grow up to the glass roof and create a surprisingly humid atmosphere between the concrete forms. Some of the koi carp in the artificial lake date back to the first years after opening and have now reached a notable age.

Location: City of London

Inception: 1982

Architects: Chamberlin, Powell and Bon

Official opening: 1969

Architectural style: brutalist architecture

Floors above the ground: 42

Part of: City of London Pedway Scheme

Website: https://barbican.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.51917,-0.09389

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:32