By Peter.
That’s a fascinating firsthand perspective—thank you for sharing your experience working in the University of Leeds complex designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon around 1970. It’s intriguing to hear it described as the “prototype” for the Barbican, with many shared design traits (and challenges) in its elevated walkways, concrete forms, and multi-level layout.
The parallels are clear when comparing the two: both feature bold concrete structures, podium levels, and that distinctive brutalist sculptural quality you mention, prioritizing form alongside (sometimes tricky) functionality.
Your suggestion that the Barbican renewal team visit Leeds to learn from decades of remediation—particularly weatherproofing and “humanising” these spaces—is spot on. The ongoing Barbican Renewal Programme (with £191m approved in December 2024, major works starting 2027, and a year-long closure planned for 2028–2029) focuses on accessibility, wayfinding, sustainability, and opening up the “bewildering” layout while preserving its Grade II-listed brutalist heritage.
Practical lessons from Leeds’ iterative upgrades could indeed inform how to soften edges, improve insulation, and enhance usability without losing the original bold character. It’s a timely idea as the project (led by Allies and Morrison, Asif Khan Studio, and others) continues consultations.
#Brutalism #BarbicanCentre #ChamberlinPowellBon #UniversityOfLeeds #Architecture #BarbicanRenewal
