A new image for Barbican Foodhall and Lounge London

A new image for Barbican Foodhall and Lounge, London in British architects and designers SHH have completed the Barbican Foodhall and Lounge in London. They create two stunning new restaurant spaces within one of London’s greatest 20th century architectural landmarks, the Barbican Centre. The project ‘sought to bring the Centre’s food and beverage offer up to the level of the Barbican’s long-established worldwide reputation for art exhibitions and performances’ said SHH’s lead designer on the project Helen Hughes. The three main directions were to link the spaces back to the wonderful architecture of the Barbican itself and to celebrate the building’s materiality by restoring the original appearance; to create visual connections between the two offers, particularly via the outdoor terraces.

Which extend from each space by planting and designing huge, eye-catching and bespoke-designed umbrellas or ‘urban trees’, made of two off-center perforated aluminum disks, with the bottom disk measuring 3m in width, set into wooden bases, which house both planting and integrated seating and finally to animate the spaces with striking feature areas, details and materials, great lighting and an unusual mix of furniture including new, bespoke, vintage and specially-reissued items.

The new identity of Barbican Foodhall and Lounge features new interiors, new food offers, a book bank / reading space to relax in, gourmet bar snacks and a special Dine & Dash menu, where diners can be out of the door in 50 minutes – perfect for those heading for a performance. The Lounge also features London’s first Macaroon Mixologist, where the legendary French delicacies are twinned with a range of new and traditional cocktails. Looking like is a natural and organic development of the center, the transformation helps to give a new experience those regular visitors and to introduce new ones. The Barbican restaurants win three top design awards: Best Restaurant in Another Space (Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2011), Best Bar/Club/Lounge (Luxe Et Al International Hotel & Property Awards 2011) and Best Restaurant (Luxe Et Al International Hotel & Property Awards 2011).