Tate Modern

Book excerpt: Since its opening in 2000, Tate Modern has become one of the most popular modern art attractions in the world. Working with the shell of the former Bankside Power Station, internationally acclaimed architects Herzog et de Meuron have created a gallery of singular power and beauty. With the second major phase of the building, Tate Modern presents a striking combination of the raw and the refined, of found industrial spaces and dazzling contemporary architecture. The philosophy and interchange of ideas driving this extraordinary project are revealed in conversations between Tate Modern Director Chris Dercon and architect Jack Herzog among other key people involved. Featuring stunning new photography and texts by a range of leading architectural writers, this is the essential guide to one of the world’s most iconic buildings.