To wonder if the Barbican is one of the ugliest places in London?

[leprachaun]

I lived there for a while, have friends there, and there is no doubt that it is wonderfully convenient. But am I the only one to think that it is hideously ugly, just like many other 1960s council blocks. However, now it has a Grade 2 listing - emperor's new clothes, or what?

I would be interested to know where you consider to be the ugliest and most beautiful parts of London.

Barbican is ugly but Lloyds building is quite spectacularly innovative - love the lifts on the outside.

I also like Bankside power station - actually I love power stations full stop but Bankside is really good. Strange how buildings like Bankside that were originally hated become loved.

I was lucky enough to live there for a year in my 20s and it is an incredible place to live. Inside it doesn't have any of the faults of the cheaper 60s high rises, it's really solidly built with very clever bits, some of the flats are huge as well. If I win the lottery I'll go back in a heart beat!

On the contrary barbican is stunning example of brutalism movement -beautiful
I also like festival hall south bank. Love Lloyd's building

My understanding is that the Barbican arts centre, which I actually do like, came much later than the blocks of flats, which were built in the 60s. It is the endless swathes of concrete which I don't like and the high rise blocks; I just find it depressing, even with a few shrubs, but each to their own! I go there to visit my elderly aunt quite often and she wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I love the Barbican.

I reckon most 60s high rise estates would be as nice if they'd had as much money spent on their upkeep, though.

i love the barbican and am that the OP used to live there
I once had a job that took me inside quite a few Barbican flats. they are as a rule lovely and lights. i think speed house is my favourite block, but if I won the lottery I'd buy anything on the Barbican as long as it had an original kitchen.

I love the Tate modern building, but the extension looks

I absolutely hate it. Given half a chance I'd nuke it!

I thought the Barbican was an ugly slum when I first saw it. Still too much grey concrete, there are some window-boxes that help, but there needs to be much more plant life in the public spaces to improve it.

South Bank is worse.

I have always loved the Lloyds building.

I love concrete, it's the only thing that would make me want to live n a modern house. I worked on Aldersgate street for years so got to know the barbican quite well. I really love the city of London Nd the juxtaposition of very modern and some very old structures. I also love RFH.

30 St Mary axe/ The gherkin is probably my least favourite. It's a bit crass and I dislike the light and dark stripes.

I love the terraces of Georgian Townhouses in London, but also the Barbican and South Bank. Brutalism was a completely different way of looking at buildings and the possibilities of concrete. Combining these new ideas with a lot of WW2 bomb sites in London gave architects the opportunity to experiment. The cheap unsuccessful offerings are now being pulled down, but the innovative successful designs are listed as they represent the first step on the path to the wonderful works of Zaha Hadid, et al today.

In contrast, 99% of anything built between 1980 and 1995 is lazy and bland. British Museum is a disaster.

Whaaaat? The Barbican is fantastic!

If I had to live in London I would live in the Barbican.

Agree with the British library, it's hideous.

I love love love the Barbican. It's like a great bit ship in the middle of the City. I used to live there and miss it dreadfully. It's definitely where I'd buy a flat if I had the money. The flats are beautifully designed and lovely to live in. There's a lot of greenery, the sound of water, wonderful arts facilities, walking distance from work. I visited one flat with the most amazing views over London, 4 bedrooms and a grand piano - heaven!

I love the Barbican, love the Southbank/RFH/Hayward etc, love the Lloyd's Building, love the British Library. I think what all these have in common is inventive thinking about how people move through and interact with the environments, using different levels, open and closed spaces etc. They are all buildings that make me inquisitive to explore them. I wouldn't say an of them are 100% successful (the Barbican can be a nightmare to navigate for example) but I love that they are different.

Ah yes, Kidbrooke. Ferrier Estate now raised to the ground and new houses built

I went past on the train today and I offer you Deptford Green School. Nota window in sight. Or on site.

The "shopping centre" at Elephant and Castle. Every time I drive past I wonder what it is still doing there.

I have just checked the prices on Zoopla and am thinking I should have hung onto my flat....grey, concrete, sky blue pink, whatever ... I can't believe how much the priced have rocketed in the last 10 years!

And this, oh Best Beloveds, is why we have such a variety of architecture in the land. Every style and edifice has its admirers and detractors.
Long may it continue.

I quite like it! Do you ever wonder if every single extension, and they all end up with floor to ceiling wall to wall glass at the back of the house now, are they going to end up really unfashionable and embarrassing? will we say, do you remember when everybody turned the back of their house in to a car sales show room, ha ha, so naff right?

why do we think what we do now is going to stay looking 'nice'. Just wondering really.

But Lemon don't you think that some building designs are classic and stand the test of time, whereas others are just temporary phases or blips, just like clothes - anybody remember the 1980s? The music, the clothes, all fun and that was where it was at, but looking back yuk! Whereas if you look at the Beatles, the Rolling Stones etc - yes, they were modern and a million miles from what came before, but they were amazing, they were star quality, they will endure the test of time.

I think it is the same with architecture and brutalism doesn't do it for me - it is the equivalent of a Tracey Emin unmade bed!

Quangle

Yes, opened in 1998 or thereabouts, but AFAIK, designed much earlier and subjected to lots of delays

The Barbican estate has been grade II listed for well over a decade. Why the sudden interest OP? And why shouldn't it be listed? It is of historic interest.

'Anyone else like the Hoover Building along the Western Avenue?'

Moi!

Yep. the Hoover building on Western Avenue always catches my eye.

The thing is that some of the best architecture was actually quite functional and industrial but the owner of the business cared.

Nowadays you just get the feeling that no one in business cares and the next bland office block built at lowest cost by some developer to rent out is all that is required.