“This is a really important moment for Tate, and for London,” he said. “Herzog and de Meuron’s astonishing design will create a stunning new landmark for the capital, and a brilliant space for showing the very best of international modern art to the world, free of charge.”
The extension will be a spectacular new building that will increase the already large gallery’s size by 60 per cent, enabling it to put more of its permanent collection on display. It is expected to bring in an extra million visitors a year to what is currently the most popular museum of modern art in the world.
‘Tate 2’, as it is known, has been designed by the same Swiss partnership that transformed the Bankside power station. Planning permission was granted in spring 2007 for the 11-storey, pyramidal stack, which is forecast to cost in the region of £165 million.
“Tate Modern has been a runaway success with the public from the day it opened,” said James Purnell. “I know that this new development, which we hope will be completed in time for 2012, will prove once and for all that London is the cultural capital of the world.”
