Tate Modern - Bankside Power Station - History

Bankside Power Station

Once upon a time back in the 1952 the world's most popular art museum was named Bankside Power Station.  Where for the next 29 years it would serve power to the people of London.  This magnificent structure was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scot (who had others creations around the country), behind the clad break work lies a steel frame.  In total dimensions the length will extended 200m, as far the towering chimney splitting the air to a height of 99m, thus is smaller than Saint Paul's Cathedral which is directly opposite on the north bank.  The construction was completed in 1963, enough was accomplished in 1952 and this gave the power station its life and produce power from its oil-fired generators.  This stopped due to the rise of oil in 1981, therefore classed as uneconomic.


Fast forward to 1995, winning architects Jaques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron of Herzog and Meuron were hand the Bankside power station for renovating to what we now call the Tate Modern.

Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron.- Herzog & de Meuron

The vastness of the turbine hall.

The Light show at the Tate Modern

These two successful architects went on to remove the remainder of the plant but leaving behind the travelling crane that is still in place, also the glass extension on the roof.  The main turbine hall has most definitely been left behind this is unmissable as you enter the sloping ramp in to the heart of the museum.  To get a feel of how big the extinct turbines were all you have to do is look up from the bottom of the turbine hall, also on your travels when you get to the top floor and are not afraid of heights then look down...also dont forget that the length of the building is a surging 200m long.  In saying that when you are walking from the Southbank of the river Thames and you try and take a photo of this modern marvel you will not actually get the complete length of the 99m chimney, you can but then you need to take a portrait shot but you face losing the ends of the buildings...so take a few steps back and try again.

02 Arena

Upon arriving at the North Greenwich tube station instead of walking straight ahead off the escalators you need to turn about 180 degree...the first of two magnificent areas that you meet is the Peninsula Square which transcends you towards the colossal canopy that gives The 02 its significant appearance breaking the Greenwich Mean Time skyline.




Like a ripple in the water radiating out from the centre of the 02 canopy.  There are multiple sculptures, features and patterns in the ground.  Unless you have an eye for detail these are not visible at first until pointed out.




The tiling in the ground not only is radiating out like ripples on water but also transmitting out like radio waves.  Where they meet are granites of knowledge and facts.

  You can find these granite facts dotted in an orderly fashion from the station entrance to the green wall on the right hand-side to the glass covered walk that leads into the heart of the Dome sheltering the visitors from getting wet on a rainy day.

Probably the most noticeable structure that is viewed from the station and the Dome is a thin metallic spire that "On the 17th March each year will cast the shadow of the mast in the centre of this stone".

Walking toward the silver mast you get a sense of the grandeur of Peninsula Square that encompasses the Dome.

A few other interesting structures that you witness in the confines of the square have been created to reflect light inwards to the centre of the square.

After having a visually stimulating parade you enter the 02 Complex, here the engineering marvel is not hidden.  This is purposely on show to give a sense of strength and stamina of a long last modern creation that will stand the test of time.

The pure enjoyment that you get from witnessing all that the 02 Arena and Greenwich Peninsula has to offer on a platter of brutal construction that is delicately puzzled together to give meaning, life, thought, power, dominance, stature, and most significantly a landmark that pin points the centre of all time around the world as we know it.

New London Architecture

New London Architecture.

Situated off Tottenham Court Road, in the Building Centre complex.  The Centre is dedicated to hold gallery space and events in the architectural calender with a range of disciplines in the construction world.  The Building Centre works as a Trust for the education of the built environment.

Embarking the journey in to the main hall I was met with a scale 1:1500 of London stretched over a 12 meter long table covering a range from Paddington in the west and the Royal Docks in the east and from Battersea in the south and King's Cross in the north, using materials depicting existing areas to the proposed developments for the future.

Along the walls of this marvel creation are presentation boards explaining what is proposed in the individual areas, explaining the pro's and con's when the transition takes places.

In the next opening you have scale models of city corners, city blocks and the underground system.

The next level down on display is the Ecozone, this Zone has a wide array of eco friendly products that are available to all companies that are looking for a green alternative for going green.

Ecobuild 2011

An annual event that combines all eco-friendly and sustainable aspects in the UK's industries that are contesting against one another in selling their environmental products to the public.  Using a mixture of powerpoint presentations in seminars, stands with members of staff and displays of products in your face kind-of-thing.