Thursday 16 January 2014

The Barbican

Within the city of London is a housing development called the Barbican. Completed in the mid 70s, the estate contains over 2000 flats and was built on a WW2 bomb site.


The Barbican Estate includes an arts and drama centre, library, school, the Museum of London and the Guildhall school of music and drama. It has a landscaped area with a lake in front of the Arts centre.



Across the water is one of the few medieval churches left in The City of London that survived the Great Fire of 1666. The church is called St Giles-without-Cripplegate. St Giles is the patron saint of beggars and cripples. Although built hundreds of years before the adjoining houses and offices, somehow it doesn't look out of place.



Reflection of the estate in a leaded light window.

18 comments:

  1. The church seems so out of place amongst all those skyscrapers

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  2. Interesting. I wonder how the people who live there feel about it. I think I would like it. :-)

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  3. What great use of a bomb-site and with over 2,000 flats that gives much needed accommodation in such a central and beautiful area.

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  4. Very nice and fancy living right in the City.

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  5. Wow--what a great Housing Development... Great use of a bomb site for sure... Bet those flats are EXPENSIVE..... But--how gorgeous. Love that church.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  6. It's great when they build a housing development with some cultural and other amenities nearby.

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  7. It is like an oasis in the city. I think it is wonderful that the church is still there and it doesn't look out of place to me.

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  8. This must be one of the few "bomb site" developments that have stood the test of time - most were just concrete jungles.

    I think some of the people at the Oz open need to have their heads examined - but thankfully the run of very hot days is over.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  9. That's always the problem with old and new ! Sometimes it goes well, mostly it looks ugly.

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  10. A nice combination of old and new, living space and culture center.

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  11. Wonderful reflection shot and post for WER ~ carol, xxx

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  12. What a fantastic living space with all of that services! Wonderful shots!

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  13. The way the old and new seem to mesh together was one of the things that most surprised us about London.

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  14. One of the reasons I love London Town!

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  15. I love combination of new and old...to retmember the old time. Beautiful photos and lovely reflection of lights...

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  16. I'm very intrigued by the round fountain... Seems like a beautiful place, despite its modernism in the architecture... And practical too, with all those public facilities... Nice sharing !

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  17. It is amazing how the new complex isn't at odds with the medieval church!

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  18. I hope 2014 proves to be a good year for you and yours!

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