As a reminder to our readers, the Tate Modern, one of the most visited museums in the world, is housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames. Its transformation into a museum was timed to coincide with the 2000 celebration and brought worldwide fame to architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. The interiors of the TPP were transformed by them into sterile white rooms suitable for any exhibitions and events.
But already in 2005, Tate Modern was no longer enough space. It was decided to build a new building nearby - according to the design of the same architects, as well as to use the underground fuel tanks located right there. The building will open in 2016, and the new "Cisterns" are ready for the Olympics, as originally planned.
In contrast to the interpretation of the main building, Herzog and de Meuron retained the industrial character of these circular spaces. New concrete inserts accentuate cracks and stains on old walls, and the holes punched in them are left untreated, with a deliberately rough texture.
These spaces are intended for the most difficult types of contemporary art for exposure and perception: video art and performance. It is also planned to hold film screenings and similar events there.
N. F.
