'Both historic and futuristic': Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat at the Barbican
What happened when almost 1,500 attendees descended on the Barbican to discuss the future of architecture?
In September 2024, London’s Barbican Centre hosted the prestigious Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) International Conference.
The event, which ran from September 23-27, attracted 1,474 attendees over three days, and featured more than 300 speakers from 50 countries, turning the venue into a global hub for discussions on the future of urban development and sustainable high-rise architecture.
This year’s theme, “New or Renew: Addressing the Density Dilemma,” sparked vibrant discussions across the venue’s many meeting spaces.
The Barbican, an icon of architectural brilliance, was, as CTBUH CEO, Javier Quintana de Uña remarked, “the perfect choice for the 2024 International Conference.”
Renowned for its Brutalist, city-within-a city-structure, and currently undergoing a transformation as part of a major renewal project, the Barbican embodied the theme.
“The uniqueness of the venue, its cultural importance and history perfectly aligned with the 2024 conference theme and what we are trying to achieve,” added Quintana de Uña, “and since London is one of the most vibrant centres of urban innovation, we believed it would – and did – inspire thought-provoking discussions.”
Discussions centred around density, sustainability, and architectural innovation and the setting allowed participants to reflect on the legacy of urban development and how to shape the future of our cities.
Key sessions, highlights and delegates’ thoughts
The conference featured a range of presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, delving into topics such as sustainable urbanism, vertical cities, and innovative construction methods.
Notably, the discussions during the workshop “Planning for Density” generated significant interest, resulting in one of the most attended sessions of the conference. Linked to the CTBUH’s City Advocacy Forum initiative, the session fostered meaningful dialogue on urban challenges. Participants heard from urban experts representing London, Toronto, New York City, and Paris.
Elsewhere, speakers motivated delegates with technology solutions in urban strategies, ideas for retrofitting city icons for today's demands, and radical environmental approaches for higher sustainability. The closing plenary before the final day of off-site visits brought together the day’s events around the theme “Creative Engineering & Design: What's Next?" with speakers who have shaped the field of tall building engineering and design.
One attendee from New York, Kenneth A. Lewis, AIA, Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, remarked, “This year’s CTBUH conference was rich with great discussion, [it] had an array of interesting collective activities and an important topic at its heart.”
Nathan Jack, from BlueScope Lysaght & Fielders, in Sydney, expressed similar sentiments. “The 2024 CTBUH [international conference] is bringing crucial topics like sustainable urban development and green energy to the global stage where previously they’d been siloed within a few forward-thinking Nordic countries,” he commented.
In addition to the core agenda, the 2024 CTBUH International Conference offered networking opportunities and an awards ceremony that recognised the best in tall building design. Off-site tours of landmark London developments also gave delegates firsthand insights into innovative urban solutions.
The Barbican’s role
The Barbican’s versatile spaces proved pivotal in accommodating the conference’s vast scope. The Hall, Theatre, Cinemas and Auditoria Rooms, Frobisher Rooms, and Conservatory Terrace were all used, and across the Barbican Foyers, teas and coffees, breakfasts, and lunches were served.
The variety and uniqueness of the spaces caught delegates’ attention. Kenneth Lewis referred to the famous Lakeside Terrace as a “great space” and lauded the “fantastic refurbishment” of the venue that had taken place since his last visit.
Nathan Jack, who was a first-time visitor to the venue, described the Barbican as “unlike any venue” he’d seen. “It’s extraordinary,” he added, “It feels both historic and futuristic. I’m curious to hear about the Barbican’s renewal plans, too.”
Asim Khan from DeSimone Consultant Engineering in New York, agreed, stating: “As a structural engineer, I love the Barbican – particularly the exposed concrete work, it’s very impressive. And I’ve really enjoyed learning about projects in the locality and how they work.”
Delegates joining presentations on the Conservatory Terrace were taken by the space, describing sitting among the plants of the Barbican’s very own tropical oasis as a “memorable experience.”
Jackie Boughton, director of commercial at the Barbican, remarked: “Hosting CTBUH has been an exceptional opportunity to showcase our unique venue as well as contribute to critical conversations about the future of urban density and sustainability.”
Challenges and solutions
The Barbican Renewal project, though highly relevant to the content of the event, also presented challenges, including the temporary loss of the Fountain Room, a key breakout space. The Business Events Team creatively repurposed the Pit Theatre into a replacement breakout space, ensuring the event’s seamless delivery.
Impact and results
The event was a success, providing an unforgettable experience for delegates and achieving its intended goals.
CTBUH at the Barbican saw:
- A higher turnout than expected: 1,474 delegates and speakers attended compared to estimates of 1,100
- Quality keynote speakers and panel discussions around a pertinent and pressing global issue
- Positive media coverage: the event was live reported by Monocle and there was advance coverage in various publications
- Positive feedback from the client and delegates alike
CTBUH event organisers positively praised the Barbican, describing the venue’s operations team as “extremely helpful, professional and a pleasure to work with.” From an internal perspective, the event’s success came down to the seamless collaboration of several Barbican departments in an effort to deliver a large-scale event in one of their busiest commercial periods.
The success of the CTBUH 2024 International Conference at the Barbican not only reinforced the venue’s capability to host high-profile international conferences but also cemented its role in driving global conversations on sustainability and urban growth. Moving forward, the Barbican is poised to continue hosting impactful events that push the boundaries of thought leadership and innovation in the architectural and urban development space.
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