058 FOCUS
Above St Paul’s Cathedral
will be visible from the top
of the building
Left The proposed look for
the entry plaza‘A vital public space seamlessly connects to the foyer
and extends a welcome to everyone, with or without a
performance ticket. The foyer would be abuzz day and
night, filled with activity and glimpses into the inner life
of the hall.’
Diller adds that the inspiration for the state-of-the-art
concert hall, where the plan is for the audience to wrap
around the orchestra, are the geological formations of
layered strata. The space will therefore be quite steep,
enabling every seat in the house to have a good view.
Breakout areas will also be employed for musicians to
perform within the audience.
It is intended that the new centre will create an iconic
gateway to the City of London’s emerging Culture Mile,
drawing people into an area that is set to be transformed
over the next decade. The vision for the landmark building
is to bring together three internationally recognised
cultural organisations – the Barbican, the London
Symphony Orchestra and the Guildhall School of Music &
Drama – to inspire a new generation with a love of music.ALL IMAGES: DILLER SCOFIDIO AND RENFRO