Page 53 - designmag Vol 1

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53

Architecturally and in urban design terms,

the Tate project has repositioned London to

extend its reach to the south of the Thames,

necessitating the design of an important

pedestrian bridge which has created a

completely new and walkable experience of

London, and revitalised Southwark.

The global interest in the Tate Modern has

seen the need for an extension.“The old Tate

receives around two million visitors a year, the

National Gallery receives four million and the

British Museum receives five million so we

expected two to two-and-a-half million visitor

a year,” says Tate director, Sir Nicholas Serota.

“(In the) first year we got five million, so any

visitor to the site knows that we are

overcrowded and that we need to extend.”

The opening of Tate Modern in May 2000 was

intended as the first stage in the

development of the former Bankside Power

Station. It was always envisaged that the

derelict oil tanks and the switch station to the

south of the site could eventually be

integrated into the gallery.

The electrical switch station is still used to

power a large part of the City and South

London. EDF, who own the station, are

modernising their equipment so it will take

up a smaller part of the building.This

provided the ideal opportunity to expand

Tate Modern, with the oil tanks forming the

foundation of the new building.

The world awaits this splendid new project,

currently under construction on the south

side of the Tate, which will present a striking

combination of the raw and the refined,

found industrial spaces and twenty-first

century architecture.

There are many fine elements to the design

of this project.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.

“The use of brick is not cool which is the

reason we jumped on it for a project like this

because it meant this building would stand

alone,” says Jacques Herzog.

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.

The new building will also 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 switch-house.With a high

thermal mass, frequent use of natural

ventilation, and utilisation of daylight, the

new building will use 54 percent less energy

and generate 44 percent less carbon than

current building regulations demand.

A public walkway through the building will

make possible a direct route from the City to

the heart of Southwark.There will be two new

public squares to the south and west of the

building.To the east, a new planted area will

be created.

previous page.

(top)Artist’s impression of the Tate Modern

de Meuron). (below) The transition from switch-house to

this page.

(top) The Tate Modern is housed in the former

Bankside Power Station. (Photo: Greg Bartley.) (below)

Artist’s impression of the East Tank in the extension

a detail of the perforated brickwork design and horizontal