Cromwell Tower's brutalist concrete exhaust vent is a Fibonacci Spiral

Barbican’s Fibonacci Spiral Vent

By Greyscape
8th September 2018

Strolling along Beech Street towards the Barbican Centre you’ll have noticed, in the forecourt of Cromwell Tower, a curious concrete cylinder. It’s a vent but it thrusts up from underground as if growing, twisting and searching for the light. Even this purely functional element of the Barbican is part of the whole, brilliant design. The staircase from the fire escape doors of 03 level follow the Fibonacci curve of the walls and one emerges with Cromwell Tower looming above and Shakespeare a little in the background.

Photo Credits: Howard Morris

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