The Barbicans Centres history is predicated on renewal. The Brutalist performing arts center in London by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon opened in 1982, in an area that bombed heavily during World War II. The venue is located within the larger Barbican Estate, a housing complex built in a similar style. Renewal remains at the core of the concrete ziggurat building, as a proposal shared last week by the institution lays out a renovation scheme aimed at making it more accessible and sustainable. Philippa Simpson, director of buildings and renewal at the Barbican, said: This project is rooted in the vision and ambition of its founders, to reimagine what an arts centre can be in the 21st century, a vital, creative space for everyone.A planometric drawing shows how the building will be upgraded. (Courtesy Barbican Centre)The Barbican Centre is chock full of varied uses, including theaters, galleries, libraries, and restaurants. The proposed plans unveiled this week concentrate on three of its most unique settings and spaces: the Foyers, the Lakeside, and the Conservatory. The design team for the Barbican Renewal project is helmed by architects Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio, who will work alongside engineers at Buro Happold and landscape designers from Harris Bugg Studio. The architects were selected for the job in 2022 following a competition. In a press release, the Barbican Centre shared the core tenets of the project, which include tapping into the potential of underused spaces and updating old building systems and materials to meet net-zero sustainability goals.In the Foyer, new light fixtures will be added. (Dion Barrett)The Barbican is one of Londons most iconic spaces, Oliver Heywood, director at Allies and Morrison, said in a statement. Our goal is to honour the Centres original bold architectural legacy, while making it more inclusive, sustainable, and fit for the future.Whats Old Is New AgainIn the Foyersa rather dimly lit space populated by one of the buildings signature interior elements, its massive, rectangular columnsthese themes would carry through via new lighting and decluttering, according to the performing arts center. Upgrades will also be made to doors and elevators.The Lakeside Terrace will be repaved under Barbican Renewal. (Dion Barrett)While there are many who find beauty and respite within the Barbicans Brutalist structure, its Lakeside terrace abutting the lake combines architecture, landscaping, and nature into a singular setting. The plaza furnished with small picnic tables, fountains, and greenery will be repaved as part of Barbican Renewal. The water features will be upgraded with a passive cooling system. Other plans for the terrace include new plants and improved lighting and glazing aimed at reducing energy consumption. Inside the theater buildings fly tower is the conservatory, another space subject to significant renovation per the Barbican Renewal project. Here, Harris Bugg Studio will be responsible for delivering a new planting scheme, while the architectural tasks will focus on making the interior gardens fully accessible and approachable, so they are open to the public more frequently.Chatter about a more inclusive Barbican Centre has also been subject to renewal. In 2012, coinciding with the Barbicans 30th anniversary, then museum director Sir Nicholas Kenyon called for a porous institution.The conservatory inside the Barbican Centre is the second-largest in London. (Max Colson)The issue for all arts centres is can they respond to the changing desire of the audience which, in our view, is to belong more, to have a sense of ownership and to participate more, Kenyon said at the time. Over a decade later, the sentiment still rings true as the Barbican Centre embarks to continue a legacy rooted in both history and architecture.Through February 17, the public can weigh in on the proposals to upgrade some of the Barbican Centres signature spaces. This feedback will be used by the design team and institution to inform the next state of design plans, which will be revealed in May 2025. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027, with the goal of completing the first phase (Lakeside, Foyer, and Conservatory) in 2032, to ring in the Barbicans 50th year.