Tate Modern

The building was originally the Bankside Power Station, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built in two phases between 1947 and 1963. It was a massive industrial structure intended to power London, featuring an iconic 99-meter tall chimney that was restricted in height to remain lower than St. Paul's Cathedral across the river. However, the station closed in 1981 due to rising oil prices and environmental concerns, leaving the cavernous space empty for over a decade. In 1994, the Tate Gallery announced that the site would become the home for its international modern and contemporary art collection. Architects Herzog & de Meuron were chosen to transform the industrial shell into a functional gallery space. Their design famously preserved the original character of the building, most notably the Turbine Hall, which became a signature space for large-scale site-specific installations. The museum officially opened its doors to the public in May 2000, quickly becoming one of the most visited modern art museums in the world. Expansion continued in the 21st century to accommodate the museum's massive popularity and growing collection. In 2016, the Blavatnik Building was opened, adding sixty percent more space and a striking twisted pyramid silhouette to the London skyline. This extension, also designed by Herzog & de Meuron, integrated the old underground oil tanks as performance spaces, further bridging the gap between the building's industrial past and its role as a global hub for cutting-edge contemporary art.