Tate Modern
Public information number: 020 7887 8888.

Press release: 18 July 2008

Tate Director, Nicholas Serota, and leading architect Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron, today revealed the revised plans for the new development of Tate Modern. 

In response to a revised brief and consultation with artists and curators, the architects have refined designs to create a dramatic new museum for the 21st century. At the heart of the updated plans are the unique oil tanks of the former power station which will be retained as raw spaces for art and from which the new building will rise. In the previous scheme the oil tanks were occupied by an auditorium and other facilities.

These revisions have been shaped by a desire to integrate the new building both with the existing building and the local environment. The oil tanks lead directly into the Turbine Hall and these interconnecting spaces will become the foundation of the new Tate Modern. This closer relationship between the buildings is expressed in the façade, which uses brick in a radical new way by creating a perforated brick screen through which was the building will glow at night. The building is more compact than in the previous scheme which built up of stacked boxes and the configuration is more flexible to allow for future changes in the programme.

The revised building also sets new benchmarks for museums and galleries in the UK for both sustainability and energy use. By exploiting heat emitted from EDFE's relocated transformers and employing passive design principles wherever practicable the scheme will use 40% less energy, and 35% less carbon than building regulations demand.

The scheme includes more varied spaces for Tate's growing Collection and better facilities for the gallery's popular learning programmes. The new building rises 65 metres above ground in 11 levels and will add an additional 21,500 sq metres to Tate Modern's existing 35,000 sq metres. A sweeping ceremonial route rises up through the floors providing a connecting path through the galleries and offering stunning views over London.
 
A new north/south route through the building will link Southwark to the City of London and will be open 12 hours a day. Two new public spaces will be created – a southern square modelled as a city piazza with the potential for special commissions and performance, and new gardens to the west designed for families and children.
 
Two oil tanks will be dedicated to installation, display, performance and film. In addition a further two large ‘as found’ gallery spaces will be used for artists' commissions and other projects. The project includes a new flexible exhibition space with 6m high ceilings, clusters of top-lit galleries suitable for larger works and groups of more intimate galleries designed for small-scale works. There will also be a dedicated Children's Gallery and photography and works on paper galleries.
 
Overall the project will also address some of the strains on the current building. The gallery was originally designed for 2 million visitors. With current visitor numbers exceeding 5 million, there is serious overcrowding particularly at weekends. Changes in contemporary art practice mean that different kinds of spaces are required and additional space is needed so works can be brought out of storage and shown on a more permanent basis. Since 2000, there have been 2 million participants in Tate Modern’s learning programmes and existing spaces are operating at capacity.
 
The project is due to be completed in 2012 at estimated cost of £215 million at 2012 prices. To date Tate has received £50 million from Government, £7 million from the London Development Agency and £13 million from the private sector towards the overall costs.  

For further information please contact Helen Beeckmans, Head of Press or Ruth Findlay, Senior Press Officer, Tate

Call 020 7887 4941/4942
Email pressoffice@tate.org.uk
Visit: www.tate.org.uk

Tate Modern Facts and Figures

2006 – 2007 Annual Visitor Numbers

Tate Modern                                       5.2m
MoMA, New York                               2.6m
Centre Pompidou, Paris                        2.5m
Guggenheim, New York                      0.9m
Guggenheim, Bilbao                            0.9m
SFMoMA, San Francisco                     0.7m

 

Economic Impact

• One million additional visitors are expected to attend Tate Modern from Britain and around the world.
• London will enjoy an annual contribution from Tate Modern upwards of £125 million.
• With 2012 as the completion date when London will take centre stage with the Olympics, a new Tate Modern will reinforce the city’s image as an international cultural capital and a modern developing city, with consequent advantages for business and commerce.
• For Southwark, it will act as a catalyst for the further regeneration of a central stretch of the Thames and provide a key link in the chain of developments along the South Bank

The Building

Level 1

Two of the Three tanks used for installation, display, performance and film (columns reduced to four)

Third tank houses support functions for Tank 1 and 2

Two large ‘as found’ Galleries to be used for Artists’ Commissions and other projects.

Existing education spaces off Turbine Hall to be remodelled

 

Level 2

Two new public squares as above

Form of oil tanks will be expressed in the landscape

Café with outdoor seating and retail with specialist book shop

New entrance directly onto existing bridge for access to new north/south route

 

Level 3

Flexible exhibition space with 6m high ceilings

Various space configurations possible

Dedicated learning and interpretation spaces

Espresso bar and retail

 

Level 4

Clusters of small-scale intimate galleries suitable for small scale works of art, such as works on paper, prints

Dedicated Children’s Gallery and Photography and Works on Paper Galleries

High quality informal spaces for interpretation, discussion and reflection

Level 5

Clusters of top-lit galleries suitable for larger scale works

Dedicated Screening Room

High quality informal spaces for interpretation, discussion and reflection

Bridge link to Level 5 Permanent Collection Galleries in TM1

 

Level 6

Large flexible study centre with terrace at Turbine Hall roof level

Workstations with access to digital resources, eg. films on art/artists and time based media works.

A suite of flexible work and meeting spaces with access to a terrace

A staff café, lounge and resource room

 

Level 7

Large divisible studio space for making works of art at scale

Digital production and editing resources

Dedicated home for Raw Canvas

Large Public Programmes Room suitable for seminars and public events

Level 8

Support floor for Levels 9, 10 and 11

Facilities will include staff offices, kitchen and event storage

Level 9

Large family friendly Tate Members lounge with terrace overlooking river and City

Lounge provides different zones with space for eating, family relaxation and quiet reflection.

A bookable private lounge for Tate’s closest supporters to be used at the discretion of Trustees

Suitable for Artists’ Commissions

Level 10

140 cover restaurant with views over London,

Outside dining available on terrace running along the western façade

Suitable for Artists’ Commissions

Level 11

Tate Terrace offering uninterrupted views of London for all Tate visitors

Half of this level will be enclosed and sheltered

Bar area will serve light refreshments during gallery hours

Suitable for Artists’ Commissions