BARBICAN & GOLDEN LANE
Public Realm Strategy and Vision for the City of London’s Cultural Hub
Year
2013
Service
Visions, Strategies & Masterplans
Reports
Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy, Evidence Base, 2015
Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy, Strategy, 2015
Vision for the City of London Cultural Hub, 2015
Client
City of London Corporation
Location
City of London, London
Located in the north-west of the City of London, the Barbican and Golden Lane area has a unique and extraordinary urban mix. Internationally renowned residential estates and world-class cultural institutions sit alongside the world’s largest financial centre.
Publica was commissioned by the City of London to develop an evidence base report and public realm strategy for the Barbican and Golden Lane area, alongside a complementary vision for the City of London cultural hub. Developed together over a year-long process, the documents provide a holistic appraisal of the aspirations and opportunities for the district, and a comprehensive approach to addressing future change in the area.
The Barbican and Golden Lane Public Realm Strategy seeks to retain and enhance the area’s special and distinctive character, ensuring that the quality of the district's streets, spaces and public realm matches that of its world-class architecture, heritage and institutions. It proposes balancing wider change and development occurring across the district with aspirations for environmental improvements expressed through City of London policy, and by the area’s resident, business and visitor communities.
The cultural vision sets out collective aspirations for the future of the area as a world class cultural destination, expressed by the City of London, its cultural stakeholders and institutions.
Described by Museum of London Director Sharon Ament as “one of the most complex pieces of place-making in 2014–15”, the Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy was awarded a Commendation in the Masterplans & Area Strategies category at the New London Architecture Awards 2015.
Studying social, cultural and spatial complexity
As part of the evidence base, Publica carried out an in-depth spatial and contextual study of the neighbourhood alongside an extensive engagement process, with stakeholders ranging from residents and businesses to major cultural and educational institutions. In total, the process engaged more than 4000 individuals.
Our team undertook extensive mapping to record every cultural organisation, venue, public art, event and festival in the area, providing a comprehensive overview of local cultural activity. We also mapped the existing neighbourhood amenities, including schools, medical centres, cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants, play areas and green spaces. The findings of these analytical spatial studies informed the development of the Barbican and Golden Lane area strategy and the Vision for the City of London Cultural Hub.
Strategy and Vision
The Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy sets out recommendations and projects for improvements to the district’s streets and spaces. It responds to upcoming changes that will affect how the area functions, as well as the needs of its many users and residents.
The Cultural Hub Vision represents an innovative and important step in advancing the concept of the Cultural Hub and provides a framework for the City of London, its cultural partners and stakeholders to shape actions, further develop partnerships and effectively guide next steps.
Stakeholder mapping exercise: participants were asked to mark the place, space, building or organisation they considered to be of most value(yellow), most problematic (purple), and offered the greatest opportunity (orange).
Map showing greenery and biodiversity
Following consultation on the draft strategy in summer 2015, the Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy was adopted as City of London policy on 3 December 2015. Copies of the strategy report and evidence base are available on the City of London website.
BARBICAN & GOLDEN LANE
Public Realm Strategy and Vision for the City of London’s Cultural Hub
Year
2013
Service
Visions, Strategies & Masterplans
Reports
Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy, Evidence Base, 2015
Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy, Strategy, 2015
Vision for the City of London Cultural Hub, 2015
Client
City of London Corporation
Location
City of London, London
Located in the north-west of the City of London, the Barbican and Golden Lane area has a unique and extraordinary urban mix. Internationally renowned residential estates and world-class cultural institutions sit alongside the world’s largest financial centre.
Publica was commissioned by the City of London to develop an evidence base report and public realm strategy for the Barbican and Golden Lane area, alongside a complementary vision for the City of London cultural hub. Developed together over a year-long process, the documents provide a holistic appraisal of the aspirations and opportunities for the district, and a comprehensive approach to addressing future change in the area.
The Barbican and Golden Lane Public Realm Strategy seeks to retain and enhance the area’s special and distinctive character, ensuring that the quality of the district's streets, spaces and public realm matches that of its world-class architecture, heritage and institutions. It proposes balancing wider change and development occurring across the district with aspirations for environmental improvements expressed through City of London policy, and by the area’s resident, business and visitor communities.
The cultural vision sets out collective aspirations for the future of the area as a world class cultural destination, expressed by the City of London, its cultural stakeholders and institutions.
Described by Museum of London Director Sharon Ament as “one of the most complex pieces of place-making in 2014–15”, the Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy was awarded a Commendation in the Masterplans & Area Strategies category at the New London Architecture Awards 2015.
Studying social, cultural and spatial complexity
As part of the evidence base, Publica carried out an in-depth spatial and contextual study of the neighbourhood alongside an extensive engagement process, with stakeholders ranging from residents and businesses to major cultural and educational institutions. In total, the process engaged more than 4000 individuals.
Our team undertook extensive mapping to record every cultural organisation, venue, public art, event and festival in the area, providing a comprehensive overview of local cultural activity. We also mapped the existing neighbourhood amenities, including schools, medical centres, cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants, play areas and green spaces. The findings of these analytical spatial studies informed the development of the Barbican and Golden Lane area strategy and the Vision for the City of London Cultural Hub.
Strategy and Vision
The Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy sets out recommendations and projects for improvements to the district’s streets and spaces. It responds to upcoming changes that will affect how the area functions, as well as the needs of its many users and residents.
The Cultural Hub Vision represents an innovative and important step in advancing the concept of the Cultural Hub and provides a framework for the City of London, its cultural partners and stakeholders to shape actions, further develop partnerships and effectively guide next steps.
Stakeholder mapping exercise: participants were asked to mark the place, space, building or organisation they considered to be of most value(yellow), most problematic (purple), and offered the greatest opportunity (orange).
Map showing greenery and biodiversity
Following consultation on the draft strategy in summer 2015, the Barbican and Golden Lane Area Strategy was adopted as City of London policy on 3 December 2015. Copies of the strategy report and evidence base are available on the City of London website.