Tate Modern is Britain’s national gallery of international modern art and it is part of the Tate group, with Tate Britain (focusing on British artists) also located in London, and two other galleries in Cornwall and Liverpool.
The gallery is based in the former Bankside Power Station within the London Borough of Southwark. The gallery overlooks many famous landmarks, like St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Tate Modern opened in the year 2000 (the power station, designed by Sir Gilber Scott, closed in 1981.) The exhibition spaces were hosted in the former boiler house of the power station.
The gallery was already one of the largest in the world, attracting some 5 million visitors per year. Digital Journal has previously profiled the highlights available in the original parts of the gallery, which are orientated towards conceptual artists.
Parts of the structure remained out of use and were not developed, that is until money was raised in 2013. After a period of redevelopment the remaining parts of the former power station were opened up and connected with the main part of the gallery. The opening took place mid-way through 2016.
The first phase of the expansion involved the conversion of three large, circular, underground oil tanks which form the Boiler House.
‘The Tanks’, as the underground areas are called, were previously used to store oil when the gallery was a power station. Here there are various visual and performance art displays.
The piece below is intended to be played, as part of a performance art project. Tarek Atoui’s sound pieces are intended as structures for improvisation rather than finished compositions.
Good use is also made of film media.
The second phase involved converting structure called ‘the Switch House’. This is a ten-storey tower, 65 meters high from ground level. This towering structure stands above the cavernous oil tanks. The opening provides 22,492 square meters of additional gross internal area, available for display and exhibition spaces.
Inside the Switch House there are vast areas ranging from meandering spiral staircases, to wide platforms between the floors, and to large lobby areas.
The twisting, pyramid-like shape has a spectacular viewing gallery.
The brick ziggurat is also a physical symbol of what London has to offer in terms of arts and entertainment.
With both new features additional design work was undertaken by the architects Herzog & de Meuron. The designers have retained the rough, industrial feel to house new art.
The various spaces are connected via the Turbine Hall. This is a single large space running the whole length of the building between the Boiler House and the Switch House.
Even if you are not an art lover, or an admirer of modern art, Tate Modern is worth a visit for the building structure alone and to appreciate the architectural design and the process of redevelopment, integrating the old with the new.