Tate Modern has announced the opening in 2012 of the first phase of its expansion plan, The Tate Modern Project. In 2005, Herzog & de Meuron were commissioned by the Tate to design a new development which would connect Southwark with the Thames and provide much improved open, public space. As part of this development, a new building would be added at the south of the existing gallery, significantly increasing the exhibition space and creating better facilities for the gallery’s learning programmes. The first phase of this development includes the opening of the former power station’s spectacular subterranean Oil Tanks – enormous circular spaces over thirty metres across and seven metres high, which are at the heart of Herzog & de Meuron’s extension plans and are a point of departure for the new building.
