To think the Barbican Estate in London is a masterpiece?

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I never really liked concrete or 1960s architecture until I did the Architecture Tour on the Barbican Estate a few days ago. Now I “understand” it and can really appreciate it. Living there would be a dream. AIBU to consider it a masterpiece?

I get lost every single time I go there. It’s weird because I have good spatial awareness and can generally get a map of places in my head quite quickly but not there. It was only very recently I really took on board the fact that there is a theatre and a concert hall. Each time I’d think “I’m sure this space had boxes” or “oh, I don’t remember going down these stairs to the stalls”. Total confusion! And don’t get me started on trying to find the tube station afterwards (unless it’s Barbican which I can locate, with careful attention).

I also did the tour with a really cool guide who had little horns in his beanie hat.

I think it's a typical case if letting a few young men loose with a lot of money. Some of it is completely impractical. I would hate not being in charge of my own heating and what is the point of a balcony if you can't put a table and chairs out on? Also quite daunting at night and stupidly easy to get lost.

The sculpture court must be a nightmare as any sound just echoes around and up to the flats. Also a library with walls open to the foyer? Plus, although I get Brutalist architecture, it's just ugly.

Same. I normally have a good sense of direction but that place is so disorienting.

Love it

I think it's very dark, claustrophobic and gloomy compared to some of the Brutalist "council" estates.
The actual theatre/library bit is so dark inside that it feels like you are in some kind of underground bunker.

Another one who is dreaming of a lottery win so I can retire there.

My friend and her dh have one as a pied a terre. I LOVE them.

We have very different tastes. 😁

I've always considered it an eyesore and completely out of place. If you've ever walked around it, it is a bleak, depressing wind tunnel, apparently not built with human beings in mind at all.

My cousin lived there and as a teen I always assumed it was because it was the cheapest place available.

My godmother owns a flat in one of the towers, and is in the process of buying another for visitors to stay in...! We love visiting, train down to King's Cross and 2 stops on the tube, so convenient

Each to their own, and most apartment blocks can risk looking a bit utilitarian/bland, but I can’t see the beauty in this development at all. The 2bed flat details above make me feel loads better about the 3bed flat we’re buying in central London for significantly less than that, though.

Lord above. Have you seen the prices? Your Godmother must be seriously minted to be buying a ‘spare’ one!

They are really hard to buy. You have to be in the know and they have waiting lists.

So clearly, a lot of people don’t feel the way I do about the place.

They filmed some of the Star wars Andor series there ❤️

Yes, I think it's a masterpiece. It's a pity that such residential schemes fell badly out of favour long ago.

I love it! My dream view. And I like all the odd angles and mazelike byways. It's more interesting than a flat grid.

A friend lived there and I got to know her flat which was one of the low rise ones near the church. The bathroom was small and compared to modern flats the kitchen was cramped and tiny.
Walking for simple shopping was a route march. Not good for anyone with poor mobility.
The noise generated in the foyer carries up into the Library. There is not barrier at floor level over so much of the area. It should go the same way as that awful Carpark in Portsmouth. Bulldozers!

It most certainly wasn't the cheapest available. In fact, only 12 homes in the entire complex were social housing (atop the now-demolished building that housed the fire station etc).

Jago Hazzard's done some interesting videos on the Barbican, e.g.

Can you tell me why you think this please?

when I was a little it was talked about as if it was the most amazing place ever. When I finally saw it, I thought - thank God we don't live here. Or anywhere that looks like it.

I don't get Brutalist architecture though.

I have never not got lost wandering around there! My colleague lives in one of the top floors. I love hearing the stories about the residents committee politics!

Absolutely stunning. I love brutalist architecture.

Absolutely much better than the kitsch pastiches so loved by King Brian.

The Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth was built in the Brutalist style and was bulldozed in 2004. I really never liked it and neither did a lot of people.

I went to a party there in one of the flats in the 70s and it was really tdark, dingy and depressing.

Tricorn Centre

I used to work round the corner from it in the 90s and fell in love with it. I’d love to live there.

@Melarus I lived in London during my first marriage. DH had put his name down when these were being built and had just been given the option on a Barbican flat. However, his career took us to another city so we never lived there. One of life's missed opportunities.

Yes, it's just shit 1960s flats but with ponds.

I can't believe anyone thinks it's even remotely nice.