'Cultural Cities, Retrofit and Renewal' running order at Barbican Centre

Image: view from Barbican Centre over lakeside towards the City of London Girls School and the church of St Giles-Without-Cripplegate - copyright of Future Cities Forum

Future Cities Forum is releasing its running order for our 'Cultural Cities' discussion event. 'Cultural cities, retrofit and renewal' is being held at the Barbican Centre this week, co-hosted with Dr Pip Simpson, Director of Buildings and Renewal, the Barbican.

Dr Philippa ('Pip') Simpson will be speaking along with cultural sector leaders, investors, developers, architects, engineers and planners. The discussion will focus on the Barbican renewal project and other major city cultural developments as well as best practice for sustainability, retrofit and net zero measures, in the preservation of cultural buildings and districts.

The Barbican Centre, an internationally renowned multi-arts centre which welcomes up to two million visitors annually, has recently shared ambitious plans to revitalise some of its most iconic spaces following the first stage of its 2025 public consultation.

The Barbican Centre has recently reported:

'The Barbican Centre is an architectural icon and a top 20 cultural destination in the UK – around 1.54 million people visited last year alone. With all major art forms under one roof and a thriving commercial events programme, as well as generous and active free spaces, cafes, bars, restaurants, and the UK’s second largest conservatory, the Centre serves a huge range of different uses and needs. 

'After more than 40 years of intensive activity, the Centre is now in urgent need of upgrade and improvement. Barbican Renewal will celebrate and enhance the Centre’s unique architecture and design heritage, ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations. This includes revitalising existing spaces, improving access for all visitors, and making the building more efficient and sustainable.'

Panel 1: Retrofit and renewal of cultural buildings

Dr Pip Simpson, Director for Buildings and Renewal, Barbican

Emily McDonald, Managing Director, Buro Happold

Sharon Ament, Director, The London Museum

Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, City of London Corporation

Kirsten Lees, Partner and Head of Paris Studio, Grimshaw

Rosanna Lawes, Rosanna Lawes Consulting (Formerly Director of Development, London Legacy Development Corporation)

Susan Johnston Chief Operating Officer, Southbank Centre

Workshop: Sustainable cultural districts run by Gavin Miller, Director of MICA Architects

Panel 2: Planning cultural districts for the future

Andy Williams, Director of Regeneration & Economy, Coventry City Council

Neil Kirby, Head of Sustainable Growth, London Borough of Southwark

Delia Barker, Director, Brixton House

Sir Anthony Seldon, Museum of the Prime Minister

Gareth Wilkins, Partner, Pilbrow & Partners

Scott Carroll, Director, LDA Design

Stephen Smith, Partner, Wright & Wright Architects

Image: the west elevation of Barbican Centre with Defoe House on right - copyright of Future Cities Forum