Barbican landscape architecture review

Tom Turner argues that the landscape architecture of the Barbican is 'half good and half terrible' . The housing estate was designed by Chamberlin Powell and Bon in the 1950s. Robert Holden argues that 'awful' is insufficiently analytical as a criticism of the podium public open spaces. Alistair Cooke thought the Barbican was a cross between a medieval fortress and the worst of Le Corubusier.
The sunken courtyards at the Barbican are a great success - probably the best twentieth century residential landscape architecture in the UK.
Significant improvements to some of the public spaces have been carried out by landscape architects Janet Jack and Nigel Dunnett.
Further work on sustainable surface water management SUDS could bring about further improvements.

[DoreenManning]

Coupled with this gorgeous footage, I have to say that that conversation was just very satisfying to listen to. You have a handful of clearly very intelligent people who are calmly making their points and arguments and just letting each other say their piece without cutting over each other or sniping. Just lovely and very insightful to listen to.

[theghostofsabertache]

I always thought the Barbican was an ugly, dystopian, maze like hellscape until I got to know it and I discovered the lake and conservatory. Yes it does have its ugly side but there are parts of it that are just unbelievable like the water feature at the lake. It’s a great piece of architecture

[hollowaysteve]

I absolutely love the Barbican. I wish I could live there.

[hangerlondoncom]

The complex does grow on you, interesting talk chaps

[raethia]

Excellent maintenance, , everything nice and clean. Something we completely lack in Italy.

[Liggie]

Could you do an exact replication of the Barbican today without all that concrete?

[markacohen]

an arcades structure makes internal walkways livable and beautiful, but that wasn't done here for many reasons

[simonhindle]

Great this was done in the unreal game engine very impressive

[MrBoliao]

It's not that the housing estate was well built or have good design.
I frankly believe it's just that there people living there are middle class - upper middle class people.
The people care about their surroundings and invest in their own neighborhoods.

[aggiesjc]

Barbican strikes me as depressing, with lackluster landscaping, grim water features, and looming, oppressive towers.

[jeffreybail]

absolutley waste of space serving the rich that have 3 other houses they more prefer to live in, this place is dead and deppressing probably intended