Herzog & de Meuron presented a new version of the design for the Tate Modern extension

Jacques Herzog and the director of London's Tate Modern introduced a modified version of the extension proposal for the Tate Modern gallery on Friday.

The original design, consisting of stacked blocks intersecting a glass volume, was redesigned after many consultations with artists and curators into a more compact form. Instead of the original glass facade, the connection to the existing museum building is now more emphasized through the use of bricks; however, as is customary with the work of Herzog & de Meuron, the bricks on the facade are used in an unconventional way, allowing the facade to glow at night. The architects originally considered using a raw concrete facade, which however, according to officials, would be seen as "too ugly" by the British public. A fundamental change is the creation of exhibition spaces from underground oil storage tanks, where a lecture room was to be according to the original design. The former storage spaces will be directly connected to the turbine hall, the central space of the existing Tate Modern.

Original design for the Tate Modern extension

The new extension will add nearly 2,000 m² to the existing 3,250 m² of floor space. The extension will contain 11 floors and will have a height of 65 m (the originally proposed structure had a height of 70 m). Construction is expected to take place between 2009-2012, with total costs reaching £215 million.

The current New Tate Gallery is located in a former power station designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. It was out of operation from 1981 and was reconstructed as a modern art gallery according to the design by Herzog & de Meuron between 1995-2000.


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