The Barbican to close for a year for multi-million pound refurbishment to 'secure its future'

The Barbican will close for a multimillion-pound makeover that will allow the cultural institution to stay open in the future, its chairman said.

With a £191 million funding injection from the City of London Corporation, which manages the site, the cultural and arts institution will undergo major upgrades to key areas and to improve accessibility to parts of the centre.

This will allow the institution to “secure” its future as “a world-leading cultural and economic powerhouse”.

The centre’s famous indoor botanical gardens in the Conservatory, brutalist foyers and lakeside terrace will be carefully restored to improve crucial infrastructure and open up public areas.

The revamp will sensitively protect the Grade II-listed estate and reuse materials including the glass from the C