The new building will sit to the south of Tate Modern. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, it will rise from behind the power station as a new iconic addition to the London skyline.
Architecture
Like the original Tate Modern, the new building is designed by Herzog & de Meuron and will present a striking combination of the raw and the refined, found industrial spaces and 21st century architecture.
The façade will use brick to match the surface of the existing structure, while creating something radically new – a perforated brick lattice through which the interior lights will glow in the evening. Windows and the terrace will appear as cuts in the brick surface. The building will rise 64.5 metres above ground in 11 levels, its height responding to the iconic chimney of Giles Gilbert Scott’s power station.
Detail of the perforated brickwork design and horizontal windows on the new building
© Herzog & de Meuron
If the Turbine Hall was the defining emblem of Tate Modern’s first stage, the vast oil tanks, at the base of the building, will become as closely associated with the new building. These raw industrial spaces will retain their rough-edged atmosphere to become an unforgettable performance and exhibition venue.
Beautiful new galleries displaying the Collection will have a greater variation of sizes and shapes than the original museum, and there will be a larger space for temporary exhibitions. Tate Exchange will enable groups to exchange skills and ideas, there will be new seminar spaces, and a cutting-edge Media Lab. Social spaces will include a new Members Room, a Level 10 restaurant, and a public terrace on Level 11 all with outstanding views across the capital.
Sustainability
The building will be a model of environmental sustainability, setting new benchmarks for museums and galleries in the UK.
It will draw much of its energy needs from heat emitted by EDF’s transformers in the adjoining operational switch house. With a high thermal mass, frequent use of natural ventilation, and utilisation of daylight, the new building will use 54% less energy and generate 44% less carbon than current building regulations demand.
The architects
Herzog & de Meuron was founded in Basel by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. It now has offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid and New York. The practice has received international acclaim and awards for its innovative work, including the Pritzker Prize in 2001, the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2003, and the RIBA Gold Medal in 2007.
Recent projects include the new de Young Museum in San Francisco (2005), the National Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) and The Philharmonic Hall, Hamburg (2009).
The energy and carbon savings elements of these projects have been supported in part by the European Regional Development Fund (via the London Energy Efficiency Fund)
