The Barbican refurbishment should take heed of Leeds | Letter

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Design lessons from a 1970s pioneer of brutalist architecture should guide the Barbican's £1 billion revamp. The University of Leeds' Chamberlin, Powell and Bon-designed complex, built in the early 1970s, was the original source of inspiration for the London arts centre.

Visitors to the university were often met with a stark contrast between the building's imposing brutalist structure and its intended function as a hub for learning. The author, who spent over 30 years working on the prototype, regarded the Chamberlin buildings primarily as a large-scale piece of sculpture rather than functional office space.

The University of Leeds has undergone several rounds of restoration and refurbishment since its construction, and those involved in the Barbican's £1 billion renovation should take note. By examining how the university has weatherproofed and humanised the building, they may uncover valuable insights into creating a more welcoming and engaging public space.

A close look at how the University of Leeds has addressed the same challenges as the Barbican could be just what is needed to create a truly world-class arts centre.
 
💡 think they should really dig up some old vids of the university when it was first built... people's reactions are so telling 🤔. those buildings were like nothing else back then, and it's crazy how they're still referencing them 50 years later 💯. gotta wonder what's driving this £1 billion revamp anyway? maybe it's time to rethink what 'artistic' means for a space that's meant for the public 🤷‍♂️
 
I'm loving this idea 💡! The brutalist architecture movement was all about pushing boundaries and creating something bold, you know? I think it's so cool that they're looking back at some of the OG pioneers like Chamberlin, Powell and Bon for inspiration on how to revamp the Barbican. It's not just about preserving history, but also learning from what worked (and didn't work) in the past.

I mean, who doesn't love a good dose of contrast between form and function? The way the building was meant to be functional, but ended up being this stunning piece of art... it's like they're saying, "Hey, we can do better!" 🌟 And I think that's exactly what's needed in urban spaces. We need more of these human-scale buildings that bring people together, rather than just being soulless institutions.

The fact that the University of Leeds has gone through multiple rounds of restoration and refurbishment is totally on point too. They've learned from their mistakes and found ways to make it work... we can do the same with the Barbican! 🤞
 
the idea of taking inspiration from the chamberlin buildings is super interesting 🤔 i mean, those brutalist structures can be kinda intimidating at first, but then you see all the nooks and crannies that make it feel more alive? like, have you ever noticed how the chamberlins use natural light to their advantage? it's so cool!

anyway, if we apply some of those same principles to the barbican revamp, i think it could be amazing 🤩. they should definitely consider adding more green spaces and public art installations to make it feel more welcoming. and i'm all for incorporating some of that brutalist charm too - like, who says modern buildings have to be boring?

i also love how the author talks about the chamberlins being like a "large-scale piece of sculpture" 🎨. that's so true! architecture should be more than just functional, it should be beautiful and thought-provoking too.
 
I think it's crazy that people are gonna take design lessons from 70s brutalist architecture for the Barbican revamp 🤯. I mean, I love a good dose of drama and functionality, but that style can be super intimidating to visitors. The University of Leeds' approach, on the other hand, has clearly shown that you can make it work! They've humanised those buildings by adding in more natural light, comfy spaces... it's all about creating a vibe that makes people wanna hang out. If they can do it with brutalist, why not modern/contemporary designs? Let's not forget the most important thing: making the space feel welcoming and engaging for everyone! 🌟
 
I'm lovin' this idea! 🤩 The Barbican's £1 billion revamp should definitely take some inspiration from Chamberlin, Powell and Bon's brutalist masterpiece. Did you know that in 2020 alone, UK universities received over £15 billion in funding? That's a lot of resources to work with! 💸

According to a study published in 2019, the average student aged 18-24 spends around 3 hours per day on social media 📱. If they can create spaces that encourage learning and engagement outside of online interactions, we're talking game-changer for future generations!

The UK's population is projected to reach 70 million by 2050 🤯. With a £1 billion renovation, the Barbican could be setting an example for sustainable design and community-focused architecture. Let's get this building upgraded and inspire a new wave of innovative spaces! 💚
 
I think its all about balance you know? The brutalist vibes are cool, but u gotta make it feel like ur in a library not a prison 🏰💡. Its like my grandma always said, form follows function, but also don't forget the people 👥. I mean, who wants to walk into some massive concrete box and just stand there? Give me some natural light, comfy chairs, and some greenery over cold grey walls any day 🌱😎
 
🤔 I think it's crazy that designers are still drawing inspiration from buildings that were meant for learning, not socializing 🎨. The Chamberlin building at Uni Leeds was like, super cool when it came out, but 30+ years later, it sounds like they had to make some major adjustments to make it usable for students 😂. If the Barbican's £1 billion revamp is gonna cost that much, I hope they learn from Uni Leeds' mistakes and don't end up with a building that's super intimidating 🚫. They need to find a balance between being artistic and making people feel welcome 😊. Can't wait to see how this all plays out! 👀
 
Wow 🤯 this is so deep! I mean, brutalist architecture is all about functionality, right? But it can also be kinda harsh 😳. I think taking design lessons from that 1970s pioneer would actually make the Barbican super cool again 💥 and welcoming to everyone 👍. The way the University of Leeds refurbished their building was pretty genius 🤓... maybe we could learn a thing or two about making art spaces human-centred rather than just functional 🙌
 
Wow, brutalist architecture is so cool! 🤯 I mean, can you imagine walking into some old university building and being like, 'what is this place?' The contrast between the building's exterior and interior is insane. Interesting how they considered it more of a sculpture than functional space... 👏
 
😊 I think it's so cool that they're looking at old design lessons from back in the 70s! The brutalist style might seem rough at first, but trust me, it can actually add character to a space. I mean, the Chamberlin building is like no ordinary office building - it's got personality! 💡

What I love about the way they designed it was that it wasn't just about functionality, it was also about making a statement. And that's something we could definitely learn from in today's world. Our public spaces can feel so sterile and soulless right now... 🤔

I'd love to see them incorporate some of those same ideas into the Barbican's £1 billion revamp. Make it more human, make it more interesting... add some curves or some texture to break up all the straight lines! 💆‍♀️ That would be a game-changer for London arts centre! 🎨
 
The Barbican's £1 billion revamp should defo take some clues from that 70s brutalist uni build 🤔. I mean, those Chamberlin buildings are like a work of art, not just for looks but also how they're used. Like, they didn't just stop at designing something cool, but made it functional too...ish 😂. The way the Uni Leeds has handled restoration and refurbishment is actually pretty interesting, and it's worth looking into more. Maybe they can teach us a thing or two about making public spaces feel welcoming without sacrificing their 'edgy' vibe 💡. A £1 billion revamp is a big deal, and if we learn from someone else's experimentations, that'd be awesome 👍
 
🤯 I was thinking the same thing! I visited the Chamberlin building at Uni Leeds last year, it's wild how rough around the edges it looks but still kinda cool? I mean, who designs something like that on purpose? 😂 But seriously, they should take notes from how the university has made it work. Like, have you seen those weirdly-shaped staircases in the Chamberlin building? They're actually pretty genius, and now Uni Leeds has incorporated similar 'sculptural' elements into their own design. I reckon that's where the Barbican could learn a thing or two... 🤓
 
I was just thinking about how much I love retro decor, you know? Like, those old brutalist buildings are soooo cool... they're like giant metal sculptures that don't even need any fancy lights or decorations to make 'em pop 💡. And have you ever seen the way the light reflects off those concrete surfaces? It's like they're made of polished onyx or something 🌎.

Anyway, back to the Barbican renovation... I'm all for exploring old designs and learning from them! The Chamberlin buildings are like, super ahead of their time, ya know? And it's wild that the University of Leeds was originally meant to be this huge art piece, but still managed to make it functional too 🤯. Maybe they can teach us something about balancing form and function... oh wait, I just remembered, I need to reorganize my bookshelf at home 📚👀
 
Ugh, I mean, I'm so done with these £1 billion renovations that always seem to suck all the life out of a building 🤯. But seriously, have you seen how they're redoing the Barbican? It's like they're trying to make it too perfect, too sterile. You know what would be cool? If they brought in some of those brutalist vibes from the 70s 😎. The Chamberlin buildings at Leeds Uni are actually kinda underrated - who says brutalism has to be cold and unfriendly? They just need a bit of soul, you know? I'm not saying make it look like the original, but maybe add some cozy nooks or community spaces. That way, it's still got that edge, but also feels like a real hub for the community 💻. Anyway, can we please just get back to having honest discussions about architecture instead of just rehashing old ideas 🤦‍♀️?
 
The Barbican's £1 billion revamp should totally take some design cues from that crazy 70s brutalist architecture 🤯🏛️. The Chamberlin building at the University of Leeds was like, super ahead of its time – all raw concrete and angular lines, but also kinda awkward for a learning space 📚😒. It's wild how it still holds up today as this massive sculpture piece... who knew? 😮

So yeah, if they wanna make that arts centre more welcoming, they should totally check out what the Uni of Leeds did to humanize the build 🏠💡. Like, how do you weatherproof a building when it's meant for learning vs art? What kind of materials and design tricks did they use to make it less intimidating? 🤔

If they can just figure that out, I'm pretty sure the Barbican will be looking super fresh and awesome too 💫👍.
 
🤔 the barbican's £1 billion revamp should defo take cues from leeds' chamberlin building 👏 it was like they saw thru the brutalist exterior and got to the heart of the design 🖼️ what a masterpiece that building is btw 🙌 they took this massive structure and made it warm & inviting for students 👥 not just some cold functional space 🚫 i think we could all learn from their approach 😊 let's get that barbican feeling in london too 💕
 
🤔 I'm loving this idea! You know, I've been saying for ages that we need more brutalist vibes in our public spaces. It's all about functionality and simplicity, you feel? And the Chamberlin buildings at Leeds Uni are just iconic 🌆. The fact that they were originally meant to be a hub for learning, not just some fancy office space, is so on point.

I think what I love most about this idea is that it's not just about the aesthetics (although, let's be real, brutalist architecture is all about that). It's about creating spaces that actually work for people, you know? Like, how can we make the Barbican feel more welcoming and engaging to everyone who uses it? That's where I think the lessons from Leeds Uni come in - they've clearly figured out some clever ways to humanize those brutalist structures without losing their edge 💡.
 
I gotta say, I'm not sold on these £1 billion revamps for the Barbican. It's like they're throwing money at a problem rather than trying to fix the underlying issues. I mean, brutalist architecture might've been ahead of its time back in the 70s, but it can also be pretty harsh on the human eye. I'm all for making the space more welcoming and engaging, but how do you balance that with preserving the original intent of the building?

I've seen these revamps before, where they just slap a new coat of paint and call it a day. It's like they're not really trying to understand what made the Chamberlin buildings successful in the first place. I'd rather see some real thought put into how we can make public spaces more user-friendly without sacrificing their unique character. Anyone who thinks £1 billion is going to solve all our problems is just getting caught up in the hype 🤔
 
I think this is gonna be a game changer for the Barbican! 🤔 I mean, who wouldn't wanna learn from the OG brutalist architecture? 😂 The Chamberlin buildings are literally like nothin' you've seen before - all angular and whatnot. But at the same time, they're also super functional... if you can get past the whole "I'm gonna make a huge impact, but it's still a building" vibe 🤷‍♀️.

So yeah, I think takin' design lessons from Leeds is the way to go. They've clearly got some tricks up their sleeve when it comes to makin' somethin' that's both harsh and beautiful at the same time 🔥. And let's be real, £1 billion is a lotta cash - they can definitely afford to take inspiration from one of the best examples of brutalist architecture out there 💸.

It's all about balance, you know? You don't wanna just slap on some comfy couches and call it a day, but at the same time, you gotta make sure people feel welcome too 🤗. The Chamberlin buildings are like that too - they're all about makin' a statement, but also invitin' people in to hang out. Maybe we can learn from their example and create somethin' that's both edgy and awesome 💪
 
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