Today I am delighted to be a guest contributor on Lula Alvarez’s blog, On Botanical Photography. We have jointly produced a photo-essay on on the Barbican in London, Lula taking the wonderful photographs of this modernist fortress, with me supplying the accompanying text. For both of us, the Barbican is one of the most fascinating sites in the capital.
Here’s a photo I took last month from the London Eye, showing the three Barbican towers amidst the endearing jumble of architecture that makes up the City of London. For more on the Barbican’s remarkable intertwining of Brutalist architecture and lush landscapes, have a look at Lula’s blog.
Thank you for introducing me to this development, and for describing its features. I now add it to my list of places to go. Your collaboration with Lula’s photography made a very satifying post.
Thanks – the Barbican is a rather extraordinary place, like a world apart from the frenzy and clutter of much of the capital. Certainly worth a visit – look for events at the Arts Centre or the Museum of London (both located in the Barbican) and take the opportunity to wander through the rest of the complex while you are there.
Left a comment with Lula–excellent post.
Interesting comments here about the Barbican. I am responsible for the teams that care for the small open spaces in the City of London. We have five gardeners looking after the grounds of the estate. One of the amazing aspects of the landscape is the large expanse of lakes within the centre. You cant hear any noise from the surrounding City when your in the centre.
Alex, thanks for calling by. It’s always a joy when you blog about a place and then someone who works there gets in touch. The water at the Barbican is splendid – and thanks for mentioning the way those cascades and fountains change the soundscape, which I had omitted to mention in my guest post, but is an important part of the experience of the place.