Multi-level structure

The Barbican Centre is not arranged as a conventional building with clearly defined storeys and a single point of entry, but as part of a multi-level system of terraces forming the Barbican Estate. The estate itself is constructed as a series of platforms at different heights, connected by raised pedestrian walkways. These routes run above the level of the surrounding streets and form the primary means of movement through the development.

The Centre is inserted into this system and connected to it at several levels. As a result, it does not have a single “ground floor” in the usual sense. What appears to be ground level when approaching from the lake is not the same as street level outside the estate, and the lakeside elevation lies below the main podium level while the walkways at the rear correspond to higher internal levels.

Multiple points of entry

Visitors may therefore enter the building at different levels depending on their approach. A person arriving from the highwalks may enter directly onto what would otherwise be an upper floor, while someone approaching from street level may enter at a lower point and move upwards.

This arrangement reflects the underlying principle of the Barbican development, which separates pedestrian movement from vehicular traffic and places the main public routes on elevated terraces.

Principal spaces

Within this structure, the principal performance spaces are located below the main podium level. The concert hall and theatre occupy large volumes which are set into the mass of the building, with foyers and circulation areas arranged above and around them. The roof of the concert hall forms part of the external landscape, including the raised terrace associated with Frobisher Crescent, one of the buildings of the Barbican Estate.

Circulation and movement

Above these main spaces, the building is organised as a network of foyers, galleries, and circulation routes extending across several levels. These spaces are connected by staircases, ramps, and intermediate landings rather than by a single system of vertical circulation.

Movement through the building is therefore not linear. Routes between spaces may involve changes of direction and level, and it is often necessary to pass through a series of intermediate areas. The different levels are not always clearly distinguished, and changes in height may occur gradually, so that the relationship between one level and another is not always immediately apparent.

Spatial organisation

The internal arrangement does not correspond to a simple plan in which each function occupies a clearly defined zone. Instead, the building is composed of interlocking spaces, in which circulation areas, foyers, and functional rooms are closely integrated.

This has the advantage of compactness, allowing a large number of different functions to be accommodated within a relatively limited footprint. It also allows for a degree of visual connection between different parts of the building, with views opening across levels and into adjacent spaces. At the same time, this arrangement contributes to the difficulty of navigation, as visitors are not always able to see their destination from their starting point.

Relationship with the estate

The relationship between the interior and the exterior further reinforces this complexity. At several points, internal spaces open directly onto external terraces or walkways, allowing movement between the Centre and the wider estate without passing through a clearly defined boundary.

This integration means that the Centre can be entered and left at multiple points, and that its spaces form part of a larger network extending across the Barbican. The arrangement also affects how the building is perceived, as it is often experienced not as a single destination but as part of a route through the estate.

Overall character

The distinction between “inside” and “outside” is therefore less clear than in a conventional building. The Centre reflects an approach in which the experience of moving through a sequence of spaces is given priority over clarity of layout.

In summary, the Barbican Centre is arranged as a complex, multi-level structure embedded within the Barbican Estate, with its principal spaces set below the main pedestrian routes and its circulation distributed across a network of interconnected levels.