Barbican Centre, London

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PROJECT NAME
Barbican Centre, London
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LOCATION
Central London
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COMPLETION DATE
etch have been appointed at the Barbican Centre to complete a review of the existing lighting design and complete the technical design of the emergency lighting.

etch Associates were appointed to deliver the design for the emergency lighting and signage systems at the Barbican Centre, a Grade II listed cultural landmark in the heart of London.

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Renowned for its Brutalist architecture and heritage significance, the Barbican Centre required a highly sensitive design approach to align with its operational needs and architectural constraints.

A key aspect of the project was the sensitive integration of emergency lighting within the existing building. To achieve this, we proposed retrofit battery packs for the Centre’s original luminaires, preserving the aesthetic and architectural character of the space while ensuring modern safety compliance. This approach minimised disruption to the building fabric and provided a sustainable, cost-effective solution tailored to the unique constraints of the Barbican.

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The emergency lighting design work forms part of a larger masterplan to review and upgrade all life safety systems across the Barbican Centre. The masterplan aims to enhance the Centre’s operational resilience and safety standards while maintaining its cultural and architectural heritage. Our contributions to this project represent a critical step in achieving the masterplan’s goals, balancing technical excellence with conservation priorities.

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The design ensures compliance with current safety standards while respecting the integrity of the Centre’s historic environment.

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Our first challenge was to scan and prepare an accurate 3D record of the existing building and its lighting. This facilitated the production of base level plans to be used by the many design teams working at the centre. Following this we undertook lighting calculations to ensure that the required emergency lighting lux levels were achieved using new and specially refurbished fittings that are considered critical to The Barbican’s unique character and listed status.

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Throughout the project we engaged closely with key stakeholders including the City of London (client), Alan Baxter (conservation consultant), Hydrock (fire specialists) and Plowman & Craven (point cloud modelling team). This collaborative approach ensured that all designs were rigorously reviewed and aligned with the Centre’s long-term objectives. By fostering open dialogue and leveraging the expertise of the entire project team, we delivered a robust and heritage-sensitive solution that met the Centre’s operational and safety requirements.

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