From the Archives: Queen Elizabeth II opens the Barbican Centre, 1982

By Alex Funk2024-08-09T07:20:00

The Barbican, with the south side of the arts centre to the right.

Source: Loz Pycock / Flickr

Building reported the official opening of the controversial project and wondered what the world would make of it

The Barbican Centre was built on five-and-a-half acres of bomb-damaged ground. It cost the rough equivalent of £500m to complete and London’s expensive postwar gift to the nation experienced a mixed reception.

Construction work began in 1965 and finished 11 years later, forming the final phase of the Barbican Estate, which comprises around 2,000 residences. The centre was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1982. She described it as “one of the wonders of the modern world”.

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