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The Barbican Center in London is Europe’s largest performing arts facility, with theaters, cinemas, galleries, and a focus on “all the arts under one roof.” The building, designed in the brutalist style, was completed in 1982 and underwent renovations in 2002 and 2007. Despite criticism of its exterior, the interior features a concert hall, theaters, art galleries, and a cinema. The Barbican also sponsors an art education program for local students.
The Barbican Center is a performing arts complex in London, England. It is the largest entertainment and performing arts facility in Europe and houses a variety of theatres, cinemas and galleries. The Barbican Center often uses the slogan ‘All the arts under one roof’ in its advertisements, which emphasizes the venue’s wide selection of arts and entertainment options.
The City of London Corporation first conceived the idea for the Barbican Center after the Second World War, but it took several decades for the plans to be finalised. The site on which the Barbican Center was eventually built suffered extensive damage during the war and served as a public housing complex after the war. Construction began in 1971 and the building was dedicated in 1982 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2002, the property underwent an extensive renovation as part of its 20th anniversary celebration, and additional renovations also accompanied the building’s 25th anniversary.
Despite its focus on the arts, the Barbican Center is often criticized for its outward appearance. Designed by architectural firm Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the building features a brutalist style. The brutalist architectural style was popular from the 1950s to 1970s and is characterized by rough textures, blocky shapes, and materials such as concrete, glass, and steel. This property features a facade made primarily of concrete, giving it a simple, gray appearance. The Barbican Center was voted London’s ugliest building in a 2003 poll.
Inside, the Barbican Center offers a much nicer look, with less emphasis on Brutalist style and more on the Arts and Crafts design style. The centerpiece of the facility is the concert hall, which seats nearly 2,000. Both the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony often play here. The Barbican Center also hosts Barbican International Theater Events (BITE) in its large theatre, which seats 1,166 patrons. A small theater nearby is designed to hold 200 guests.
An art gallery known as “The Curve” surrounds the venue’s concert hall. The Curve hosts modern art exhibits, which change frequently. Visitors can also view the artwork inside the building’s large art gallery or by stepping outside to the rooftop conservatory. A cinema within the Barbican regularly hosts films and documentaries. Finally, the structure sponsors the “Adopt the Barbican” program, which allows students from local schools to participate in art education courses and workshops.
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