As if being the most popular modern art museum in the world wasn’t quite enough, the Tate Modern has just announced the details of the official opening of its new extension. And it sounds pretty fantastic. (Find the best restaurants near Tate Modern.) 260 million pounds have been pumped into a brand-spanking-new 10 storey building, boasting a spectacular roof terrace with 360 degree views of the city and a restaurant on the 9th floor.
Like the original, the expanded Tate Modern has been designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron and will open officially to the public next summer, on June 17th. Its twisting, pyramid-like shape will certainly jazz up the ever-evolving London skyline and the building itself will give 60% more gallery space.
John Browne, chairman of the Tate’s board of trustees, announced that the whole Tate organisation has received more visitors than ever in the last year, with 5.7 million people flocking to the Tate Modern alone. “In London, property is so expensive that you are better off building an extension to your house. So that is exactly what we did,” Mr. Browne said. We’d like to see what £260 million could do to our place…
Check out our guide to free museums in London.
The first visitors to the new building will be 5000 children from across Britain, which sounds like the school trip from Hell but is pretty vital in encouraging the spread of culture across the country. We love you London.
Picture credits: Herzog & de Meuron