Building Utopia: The Barbican Centre

The Barbican Arts Centre in London celebrated its 40th birthday with a beautifully designed book that explores its history, architecture, and programming. The book includes never-before-seen material from the center's archives, including plans, photographs, signage, and branding. It also features photographs of performances and exhibitions, as well as an authoritative text by cultural historians, architects, music critics, writers, and theatre critics. The book is an invaluable companion to one of the world's most important cultural spaces.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Pavilion Books

A magnificent celebration of the Barbican Arts Centre's 40th birthday, nestled in the heart of the vibrant City of London. The Barbican Centre stands as the largest multi-arts centre in all of Europe, boasting an art gallery, theatres, concert halls, cinemas, and a beloved conservatory. Renowned collaborators include the esteemed London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Compiled by Nicholas Kenyon, the Barbican Centre's Managing Director from 2007 to 2021, this comprehensive exploration delves into the very essence of the centre, drawing upon a vast array of material housed in its archives, much of which has never been seen before.

Within its pages, you will find meticulously designed plans and photographs showcasing the centre's architectural marvels and construction process. Original signage and branding, along with brochures and programmes, provide a glimpse into the centre's early days. Accompanied by an abundance of photographs, capturing the diverse range of performances and exhibitions that have graced the Barbican over the years, from early Royal Shakespeare Company performances to the iconic Rain Room installation of 2012 and the current impressive programme of events curated in partnership with schools and the local community.

The book's authoritative and evocative text is penned by a diverse range of experts, including Fiona Shaw, Sir Nicholas Kenyon, cultural historian Robert Hewison, architectural historian Elain Harwood, music critic Fiona Maddocks, writer and theatre critic Lyn Gardner, editor and creative director Tony Chambers, author and film critic Sukhdev Sandhu, and more. With comprehensive listings of Barbican events from 1982 to the present day and snippets of oral history from some of the many individuals who have been associated with the centre throughout its history, this lavish book serves as an invaluable companion to one of the world's most significant cultural spaces.

Weight: 1474g
Dimension: 218 x 286 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849946810