The Barbican Centre has launched an international competition to find a designer who will create a new generation of furniture for its public spaces as part of its £231 million Renewal programme.
Furniture archive, credit: Barbican Centre
The commission, announced today, invites designers and design teams from around the world to develop a new furniture strategy and create a bespoke collection of up to 500 pieces for Europe’s largest multi-arts centre, ahead of the Barbican’s 50th anniversary.
Expected to run between 2026 and 2029, the project will rethink how visitors experience the Grade II-listed Brutalist landmark. Designs will range from armchairs, sofas and coffee tables to communal benches, bar stools and stackable seating, with accessibility, flexibility and sustainability central to the brief.
The appointment forms part of the Barbican Renewal programme, which aims to restore and revitalise the iconic arts centre while preserving its architectural legacy. The new furniture will be integrated across key public spaces including the Lakeside, Sculpture Court and Learning Spaces, alongside redesigned foyers by Allies and Morrison and Asif Khan Studio.
Furniture has played an important role in the Barbican’s identity since it opened in 1982, when celebrated British designer Robin Day created bespoke seating and tables that complemented the building’s distinctive architecture. Over time, much of that furniture has been replaced, while audience research has highlighted the need for spaces that are more welcoming, adaptable and accessible.
Philippa Simpson, Chief Operating Officer of the Barbican Centre, said:
“The Barbican is a social and civic centre, where people encounter a unique mix of arts, architecture and design. Furniture has always been central to that experience, setting a tone and inviting our visitors to spend time with us, formally and informally.
“We’re looking for a designer or design team to create objects of quality and comfort, that respond to the Barbican’s extraordinary architecture and artistic purpose. We want these new designs to accommodate the remarkable range of activities that take place in our spaces, ensuring every single visitor knows they are welcome.”
CGI Foyer Shop Courtesy Kin Creatives
Alex Watt, Architect at Asif Khan Studio, added:
“The Barbican’s foyers are some of the most important spaces in the building. They are places where audiences arrive, orient themselves and begin their experience of the Centre. We’re looking to enhance these spaces while celebrating the character and ambition of the original architecture, and this furniture commission is an exciting opportunity to extend that thinking.”
Applications are open until 28th August 2026, with shortlisted designers invited to tender in September and the successful appointment expected to be announced in November. MORE DETAILS
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Mark Westall is the Founder and Editor of FAD magazine –