Architectural Cases

The Barbican Centre proudly announces an upcoming immersive exhibition titled "In Other Worlds," spearheaded by the visionary speculative architect and filmmaker, Liam Young. This groundbreaking showcase, scheduled from May 21 to September 6, 2026, will redefine the iconic Brutalist complex by transforming its spaces into a series of cinematic environments. The exhibition delves into critical themes such as architectural evolution, the future of our climate, and the concept of planetary urbanism, offering a thought-provoking journey for visitors. Developed through extensive collaboration with a diverse group of writers, scientists, filmmakers, musicians, and performers, the project integrates large-scale projections, intricate LED installations, immersive soundscapes, compelling graphic narratives, unique costumes, and speculative artifacts, all designed to leverage fiction and spatial storytelling as powerful tools for engaging with environmental and technological shifts.

Central to Young's ongoing exploration at the intersection of architecture, cinema, and environmental research, "In Other Worlds" transcends mere predictions. Instead, it utilizes narrative as a means to rehearse potential future scenarios and re-evaluate the intricate relationships between urban centers, natural landscapes, technological systems, and ecological balance. The exhibition experience commences at the Barbican's Silk Street entrance, where a public LED installation presents animated depictions of fictional inhabitants from one of Young's imagined futures. Visitors then proceed through The Curve gallery and into the Barbican's deeper infrastructural zones, encountering large-scale moving-image installations that weave compelling narratives around resource extraction, strategies for climate adaptation, the pervasive influence of automation, and the imperative of collective survival.

Among the featured works is the Barbican-commissioned film, World Machine (2026), displayed on a colossal 12-meter screen. This work, a fusion of CGI and live-action footage, envisions a future where renewable energy infrastructures and AI data centers fundamentally reshape planetary landscapes. Complementing this, other exhibits address concepts of urban density, territorial governance, and ecological restoration through various speculative architectural proposals. "Planet City" (2021), initially premiered at the Tribeca Festival, portrays a future where the entire global population resides within a single, hyper-dense metropolis, leaving the rest of Earth to revert to wilderness. Additionally, "The Great Endeavour" (2023), previously showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale, visualizes a worldwide carbon-removal system conceptualized as a unified global undertaking. These pieces, alongside Young's illustrative narratives and intriguing speculative artifacts, collectively emphasize architecture and urban planning as interconnected cultural and environmental frameworks that operate across both regional and global scales. The exhibition's interdisciplinary nature is further enriched by significant collaborations with an array of talented writers, scientists, actors, and musicians. Following its presentation in London, "In Other Worlds" is slated for a national and international tour, aligning with Barbican Immersive's broader commitment to contemporary culture, emerging technologies, and digital artistic expression.

Ultimately, Liam Young's "In Other Worlds" challenges us to envision possible futures shaped by our present choices. It encourages a proactive and imaginative approach to urban planning and environmental stewardship, suggesting that through art and interdisciplinary dialogue, we can collectively craft a more sustainable and equitable world. This exhibition serves as a powerful reminder that our creative capacity is an invaluable resource for navigating the complexities of environmental and technological change, fostering hope and inspiring innovative solutions for generations to come.

Art, Nature, and Community: A Unified Vision for Brandywine's Future

Forging a Deeper Connection: The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art's Ambitious Transformation

The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, strategically located close to Philadelphia, is a beacon for the intersection of the region's landscape, historical landmarks, and artistic heritage. The Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the land and waterways across the Brandywine Valley and other vital conservation areas. Meanwhile, the Museum proudly showcases an extensive collection of American art, with particular emphasis on landscape and still-life painting, portraiture, and illustration. A monumental $100 million project, announced on May 6, 2026, aims to completely revitalize its 15-acre campus. This includes a comprehensive renovation of the historic museum structure, the construction of an entirely new museum building designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, and extensive conservation and landscape enhancements by Field Operations. The outcome will be a publicly accessible 325-acre natural reserve boasting ten miles of scenic trails.

Kengo Kuma's Vision: A New Museum Building that Harmonizes with Nature

Central to this transformative project is the creation of a 40,000-square-foot museum edifice, marking Kengo Kuma & Associates' inaugural museum venture in the United States. Conceived in collaboration with Schwartz/Silver Architects Inc., the design envisions a series of four wood-clad pavilions gracefully arranged along a central axis. These pavilions will feature elongated, low-slung roofs culminating in distinctive asymmetrical profiles, allowing the architecture to organically emerge from the landscape rather than assert dominance. This new structure will introduce an additional 14,000 square feet of gallery space, elevating the total exhibition area across both buildings to nearly 20,000 square feet—a remarkable 80 percent increase in the Brandywine's current capacity for showcasing art. Construction is slated to commence in spring 2027, with a projected completion in fall 2029.

Exploring the Galleries: An Immersive Journey Through Art and Landscape

The grand main entrance will be situated on the upper level's southeast side, leading into an expansive, light-filled hall that offers panoramic views of the surrounding nature preserve. From this central vantage point, visitors will have access to two large galleries positioned along the main axis, complemented by a more intimate gallery adjacent to the lobby. The lower level will house two additional galleries, a cozy coffee bar, and a tranquil terrace overlooking the picturesque landscape. On the upper floor, a vast 4,000-square-foot gallery will be exclusively dedicated to the Brandywine's renowned collection of landscape paintings. Another equally spacious 4,000-square-foot gallery will host a dynamic array of temporary exhibitions, while a dedicated 1,000-square-foot space will spotlight the iconic works of Andrew Wyeth. The lower level will further feature an additional 1,000-square-foot temporary exhibition gallery and another 4,000-square-foot gallery. The building will also seamlessly integrate offices and essential back-of-house facilities.

Revitalizing History: The Mill Building's Resilience and Expanded Role

Beyond the creation of the new building, significant refurbishment efforts are planned for the Brandywine Museum of Art's historic Mill building. This structure, a transformed mid-nineteenth-century grist mill nestled along the Brandywine Creek, suffered considerable damage during Hurricane Ida's floods in 2021. Subsequently, it underwent an advanced flood-hardening process utilizing submarine-grade technology to render its lower level watertight. Recent enhancements have included the relocation and renovation of public programming spaces, modifications to the museum's outdoor courtyard, and the integration of a barrier-free entrance to ensure universal accessibility. Future plans envision an interactive exhibition dedicated to the Conservancy's land and water protection initiatives, a modern studio art classroom, and expanded areas for educational programs and special events. Upon the completion of the new building, the Mill building will retain three of its existing galleries, alongside the café and the crucial research and study centers.

A Landscape of Discovery: Field Operations' Vision for a Public Preserve

Field Operations is spearheading the ambitious expansion of the existing Chadds Ford campus, transforming it into a sprawling 325-acre public preserve and garden. The proposed design includes the creation of new trails that will form a continuous loop through the landscape, seamlessly connecting both museum buildings. With ten miles of trails, the project will effectively double the length of the current path network and introduce an innovative "learning landscape," featuring sections with boardwalks traversing wetlands. The expanded campus will also incorporate a greater diversity of native species and meticulously designed gardens, along with interpretive signage that highlights the local ecology. Crucially, new stormwater infrastructure will enhance climate resilience, while upgraded drop-off and parking areas will improve visitor access. An outdoor classroom and a dedicated nature play area will further enrich the visitor experience. This extended trail system will not only link the museum buildings to the surrounding natural environment but also connect them to two of the Brandywine's most treasured assets: the original studios of N. C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, both recognized as National Historic Landmarks and open to the public.