Tate Modern senior curator Mark Godfrey expects visitor numbers to rise following the opening of the extension / PHOTO: COURTESY OF TATE
The opening this June of the long-awaited expansion to London’s Tate Modern opens up a new world of opportunities to artists as well as visitors, according to Tate Modern senior curator Mark Godfrey.
Back in 2000, a derelict power station by the River Thames was transformed, by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, into the Tate Modern. The same architects are behind the newly opened extension building, which has been constructed on the site of the power station’s former Switch House. The 10-storey “twisted pyramid” adds 60 per cent more space.
Cylindrical underground tanks, which were formerly used to hold the power station’s oil, form the physical foundation of the 65-metre (213-foot) tall, 21,500sqm (230,400sq ft) building and provide space dedicated to live art, installation and film. The new floors above are connected by both lifts and a sweeping concrete staircase, while two bridges connect the Switch House with the Boiler House and the museum’s original facilities.
“Throughout the galleries we have more flexible spaces. In the basement are the tanks, huge circular areas, where there’s no daylight, but it’s rigged for performances and different types of live art,” says Godfrey. “It’s the kind of space I think that artists will come to and be inspired – respond to the possibilities, the shapes, the materiality, the concrete, the circularity of those spaces.”
The Switch House has cost a reported £260m ($345m, €310m) – almost £50m ($66m, €60m) more than expected. The Tate Modern currently receives 5 million annual visitors – a figure which is expected to rise in the years ahead.
“The second floor offers vast areas without pillars, creating very long sightlines. It can be partitioned, but we don’t need to regiment the space with walls,” Godfrey says. “The space offers a lot of flexibility in terms of how you might structure an exhibition or create conversations between artworks over quite a lot of space. There are also higher ceilings and natural light. Natural light is really important in several of the artworks we have in the collection – it really brings the work alive.”
“The third floor is a smaller space with possibilities for blackouts and film projections. On the fourth floor you’ve got two wonderfully proportioned galleries with high ceilings – and again it’s exciting to see how artists won’t just have their works placed here, but will respond to the space to create installations. There are so many ways in which an artist would look at the shapes, angles, textures, lighting, brickwork, and would be motivated by those factors,” he says.
The Switch House’s debut exhibit draws on work from across the Tate collection, with a focus on newly acquired works and an intention to show a more diverse array of international artists – from Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, Japan and China – and more female artists.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 3
Editor’s Letter: Place-Shifting
Technology is giving us the
power to Place-Shift experiences
to create on-demand, immersive
attractions in any location
Promotional Feature: EAS - Beautiful Horizons
The attractions industry is set to descend upon one of Europe’s
most inspiring cities – Barcelona. And if it’s inspiration
you’re looking for, the Euro Attractions Show is the place
Theme Parks: Desert Operations
On the brink of an entertainment revolution, Dubai looks forward to three major theme park openings. Attractions Management caught up with key decision- makers from the upcoming attractions
Mystery Shopper: Disney Delights
Disneyland Shanghai is the company’s first new theme park resort since 2005 and its biggest investment to date. TEA president-elect David Willrich went undercover to find out what Disney’s doing differently
Analysis: Part 3 - Benchmarking
Consultant David Camp asks how we measure success as he focuses on benchmarking and market penetration rates in part three of the series
Opinion: Media Frenzy
Is it time for media-based rides to raise their game? Gavin and Jason Fox, creative directors from Oscar-winning special effects studio Framestore, believe Hollywood-standard content is the next step for the industry
A view of London’s Tate Modern and new extension from the other side of the Thames / PHOTO: HAYES DAVIDSON
The multi-storey building, described as a “twisting pyramid” offers different perspectives and experiences on each level / PHOTO: IWAN BAAN
The Switch House was designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and cost a reported £260m / PHOTO: IWAN BAAN
The galleries are designed to accommodate different styles of art, such as installation art, performance art and film / PHOTO: J Fernandes, TATE Photography
The galleries are designed to accommodate different styles of art, such as installation art, performance art and film / PHOTO: J Fernandes, TATE Photography
The galleries are designed to accommodate different styles of art, such as installation art, performance art and film / PHOTO: IWAN BAAN
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
Tate Modern senior curator Mark Godfrey expects visitor numbers to rise following the opening of the extension / PHOTO: COURTESY OF TATE
The opening this June of the long-awaited expansion to London’s Tate Modern opens up a new world of opportunities to artists as well as visitors, according to Tate Modern senior curator Mark Godfrey.
Back in 2000, a derelict power station by the River Thames was transformed, by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, into the Tate Modern. The same architects are behind the newly opened extension building, which has been constructed on the site of the power station’s former Switch House. The 10-storey “twisted pyramid” adds 60 per cent more space.
Cylindrical underground tanks, which were formerly used to hold the power station’s oil, form the physical foundation of the 65-metre (213-foot) tall, 21,500sqm (230,400sq ft) building and provide space dedicated to live art, installation and film. The new floors above are connected by both lifts and a sweeping concrete staircase, while two bridges connect the Switch House with the Boiler House and the museum’s original facilities.
“Throughout the galleries we have more flexible spaces. In the basement are the tanks, huge circular areas, where there’s no daylight, but it’s rigged for performances and different types of live art,” says Godfrey. “It’s the kind of space I think that artists will come to and be inspired – respond to the possibilities, the shapes, the materiality, the concrete, the circularity of those spaces.”
The Switch House has cost a reported £260m ($345m, €310m) – almost £50m ($66m, €60m) more than expected. The Tate Modern currently receives 5 million annual visitors – a figure which is expected to rise in the years ahead.
“The second floor offers vast areas without pillars, creating very long sightlines. It can be partitioned, but we don’t need to regiment the space with walls,” Godfrey says. “The space offers a lot of flexibility in terms of how you might structure an exhibition or create conversations between artworks over quite a lot of space. There are also higher ceilings and natural light. Natural light is really important in several of the artworks we have in the collection – it really brings the work alive.”
“The third floor is a smaller space with possibilities for blackouts and film projections. On the fourth floor you’ve got two wonderfully proportioned galleries with high ceilings – and again it’s exciting to see how artists won’t just have their works placed here, but will respond to the space to create installations. There are so many ways in which an artist would look at the shapes, angles, textures, lighting, brickwork, and would be motivated by those factors,” he says.
The Switch House’s debut exhibit draws on work from across the Tate collection, with a focus on newly acquired works and an intention to show a more diverse array of international artists – from Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, Japan and China – and more female artists.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 3
Editor’s Letter: Place-Shifting
Technology is giving us the
power to Place-Shift experiences
to create on-demand, immersive
attractions in any location
Promotional Feature: EAS - Beautiful Horizons
The attractions industry is set to descend upon one of Europe’s
most inspiring cities – Barcelona. And if it’s inspiration
you’re looking for, the Euro Attractions Show is the place
Theme Parks: Desert Operations
On the brink of an entertainment revolution, Dubai looks forward to three major theme park openings. Attractions Management caught up with key decision- makers from the upcoming attractions
Mystery Shopper: Disney Delights
Disneyland Shanghai is the company’s first new theme park resort since 2005 and its biggest investment to date. TEA president-elect David Willrich went undercover to find out what Disney’s doing differently
Analysis: Part 3 - Benchmarking
Consultant David Camp asks how we measure success as he focuses on benchmarking and market penetration rates in part three of the series
Opinion: Media Frenzy
Is it time for media-based rides to raise their game? Gavin and Jason Fox, creative directors from Oscar-winning special effects studio Framestore, believe Hollywood-standard content is the next step for the industry
A view of London’s Tate Modern and new extension from the other side of the Thames / PHOTO: HAYES DAVIDSON
The multi-storey building, described as a “twisting pyramid” offers different perspectives and experiences on each level / PHOTO: IWAN BAAN
The Switch House was designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and cost a reported £260m / PHOTO: IWAN BAAN
The galleries are designed to accommodate different styles of art, such as installation art, performance art and film / PHOTO: J Fernandes, TATE Photography
The galleries are designed to accommodate different styles of art, such as installation art, performance art and film / PHOTO: J Fernandes, TATE Photography
The galleries are designed to accommodate different styles of art, such as installation art, performance art and film / PHOTO: IWAN BAAN
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
