A funny thing happens when you live in the Barbican long enough: the extraordinary gradually becomes ordinary.
The lakes become part of your daily route. St Giles’ Cripplegate becomes a familiar landmark rather than a remarkable medieval survivor. The architecture that fascinates visitors becomes the backdrop to collecting a parcel or heading home from work. Even the City dragons, standing guard at the entrances to the Square Mile, can fade into the scenery.
While appreciating this issue’s feature on the dragons, it struck me that they are a fitting symbol for many of the stories in these pages. They have stood witness to decades of change while remaining a reminder of the City’s enduring character.
That theme runs throughout this issue.
Fr Jack Noble reflects on the 60th anniversary of the rebuilding of St Giles’ Cripplegate following its destruction during the Second World War. His account is ultimately one of renewal and optimism, reminding us that many of the places we value today exist because previous generations cared enough to rebuild them.
A very different perspective comes from David Freeman’s memories of life in Andrewes House during the 1970s. Although the details belong to another era, much of what he describes feels strikingly familiar. Residents debating access routes, maintenance issues, local amenities and the future of the estate may be separated by half a century, but the conversations themselves have changed surprisingly little.
Elsewhere, Peter Duckworth explores how research into the Barbican’s original show flats helped inspire a contemporary furniture collection. Nearly sixty years on, designers are still looking to Miriam Howitt’s interiors for inspiration. It is a reminder that the Barbican was never conceived simply as a collection of striking buildings. It was designed as a place where people could live well, entertain friends, raise families and feel at home.
The Barbican’s ability to inspire has also received international recognition this year. The Estate was recently named the second most beautiful building in the world in Time Out‘s 2026 rankings, making it the highest-ranked building in the UK. Residents may feel quietly vindicated by the news. After all, we’ve loved it for years.
That community spirit was equally evident at this year’s Barbican Association Summer Party. Many thanks to the volunteers, organisers and stallholders whose hard work once again made the event such a success. The Summer Party remains one of the clearest reminders that the Barbican is more than an architectural landmark; it is a thriving community.
Missed the party, or looking for a familiar face? Browse the Summer Party photo gallery and revisit one of the highlights of the Barbican calendar. You’ll also find information about local groups, events and activities, as well as details of how to get involved with the Barbican Association.
Looking ahead, there is plenty to anticipate in the months to come.
One of the most significant developments for our neighbourhood is the opening of the new London Museum at Smithfield on 28 November. Many Barbican residents have watched the project take shape over several years, and it promises to become one of London’s major cultural destinations. A museum dedicated to London’s history, housed within one of the City’s most historic market buildings, feels entirely at home in this part of London.
Before then, the Lord Mayor’s Show returns on 14 November, bringing all the colour, ceremony and tradition for which it is famous. Whether you seek it out every year or only notice it when the road closures begin, it remains one of those occasions that reminds us just how unusual the City really is.
Perhaps that is what connects the stories in this issue.
The Barbican and the wider City are often defined by their institutions, architecture and economic importance. Those things matter, of course. But the stories that stay with us are usually about people: the residents who build communities, the volunteers who give their time, the designers who shape spaces, and those who preserve local traditions while helping the area evolve.
The dragons may be relative newcomers, but they have already watched generations pass through the City. If they leave us with one lesson, it is this: what endures is what we choose to carry forward. The stories in this issue suggest there is plenty worth keeping alive.
Until next time, enjoy the season ahead.
The Barbican Life Team
