How we (almost) married Pedro and Viola at the Barbican Summer Party
Why letting conversations flow naturally reveals the heart of a community
A Perfect Day for an Impromptu Wedding
Everything was ready: the bride and groom, the dress, the sunshine, and plenty of willing guests. What we didn’t expect was that our afternoon discussion about the future of the Barbican and Golden Lane estates would turn into wedding poetry and creative neighbourhood activation. But that’s exactly why we love The People Speak approach – you never know where genuine conversation will take you.
We were invited by the Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum to their annual Summer Party to chat with residents about the future of their estates. Armed with our Talkaoke setup, we spent the afternoon discovering what makes these iconic London neighbourhoods truly special.
What The People Speak Approach Actually Means
We bring curiosity and let residents guide the conversation wherever it needs to go. Our role isn’t to extract specific information – it’s to create a space where people feel genuinely heard and where unexpected insights can emerge naturally.
At Talkaoke, anyone can sit down, share their thoughts, and hear from their neighbours. It’s structured enough to keep conversations flowing, but open enough that real magic can happen – like this impromptu wedding.
Voices from the Estates
Throughout the afternoon, we heard from residents of all ages who each had their own relationship with these distinctive neighbourhoods:
“It took 2 years to get used to the building. I moved after 40 years of living elsewhere. But that’s what I needed after my husband died – a great community, which I found here.”
“Architecture can be polarising here but I love it here.”
Some residents had grown up on the estates, others moved away when they needed more space for growing families, and some arrived later in life seeking community. Each brought their own perspective on what makes the Barbican and Golden Lane work.
We learned about the practical benefits of brutalist architecture – those thick walls make it perfect for house parties. One resident confessed to “blasting out Kurdish Techno without any complaints from the neighbours” (Shh, don’t tell the caretakers!).
More Than Just Buildings
While outsiders might see the Barbican as stepping into a museum, residents experience something quite different. They talked about finding peace in the closed-off areas and the familiarity of a tight-knit neighbourhood. Golden Lane, by contrast, feels more open by design.
“It’s not all about the art, it’s also about the social aspect. [In Golden Lane] we have social Sundays, coffee mornings, which started around the allotments.”
A local historian at our table shared fascinating stories about the area before the Blitz – how it was famous for multi-use warehouses and the printing industry, including Oxford Press. Being just outside the City walls, it specialized in publishing rather salacious books!
Creative Solutions from Creative Residents
When we asked about favorite activities, one young person mentioned parkour – “a sport that not many people know about.” This sparked a playful debate about noise: Is parkour noisier than high heels clicking on the estate’s echoey floors? Someone jokingly suggested swapping the “No skateboarding” signs for “No high heels” – which got enthusiastic support!
We learnt about “Barbac-enis” – a hand and wall-based sport invented by residents frustrated with the notoriously complicated process of booking the official tennis courts. It’s a perfect example of how communities adapt and innovate when formal systems don’t work for them.
“Every single day I see young people making singing videos. It’s extraordinary! They should be awarded a Barbican fellowship for what they do.”
Residents dreamed up the “Barbican Podium” – an institution showcasing creativity from locals and visitors alike, featuring music, poetry, and street theatre. They believed this wouldn’t just benefit human residents but also the local plants – from colorful begonias on balconies to the pre-war trees.
From Maintenance Talk to Wedding Bells
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Pedro and Viola joined us. They’d come to the area for a date – the Barbican being unanimously agreed upon as perfect for first dates – though they were clearly past that stage.
“We are planning to get married. Look,” Viola said, opening a bag, “we even have the wedding dress!”
That was all the encouragement our gathered community needed. Young and old alike became enthusiastic wedding guests, offering marriage advice that transformed into an improvised poem:
Poem For Pedro & Viola
May you have pleasure, may you have joy, may you have good luck
May you make a nest, may you lay eggs – just like a duck
May you be like swans, who mate for life
May you have long life together
Never complain in any weather
May you fly free, like the wind together
And may you continue to bounce even higher
Bat the ball of love between you, burning like a fire
May all 10 offspring grow strong and tall
Like the Barbican trees through all winters and falls.
Why Spontaneous Conversation Works
By inviting participants to set their own agenda and following the natural flow of discussion, we discovered insights no formal survey could have captured. We learned about the emotional journey of making these spaces feel like home, the creative ways residents adapt to architectural challenges, and their genuine enthusiasm for their community’s future.
Active listening, picking up on small details, and staying curious helps create spaces where everyone’s presence matters and where ideas can develop organically. We embrace not knowing what will happen because we’ve learned that people always surprise us with better questions and more creative solutions than we could imagine.
At The People Speak, conversation is our creative medium – so we make sure to have fun with it. Whether that leads to neighbourhood insights, community poetry, or almost-weddings, we trust that genuine dialogue reveals what communities really need and want.
Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum brings together residents, community representatives and businesses working in partnership to make our neighbourhood an even better place to live, work and play.
Barbican Summer Party, 31st August 2025
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