Tate Britain to Construct 'Garden Classroom'

Tate Britain has received approval from Westminster City Council to create new Mediterranean and East Asian-inspired green spaces, including a "garden classroom" for children. The project will involve replacing existing open spaces at the gallery's Millbank entrance with a large public garden designed to be biodiverse.

Architects Feilden Fowles, working on behalf of the gallery, described the project as a "comprehensive redesign" aimed at softening the gallery's external appearance. The lead designer for the gardens, Tom Stuart-Smith, highlighted that the new layout will offer a landscape that changes throughout the year, connecting people with nature's cycles.

The museum will feature a Mediterranean-style garden to the south and a new natural pond, while the north section will include green spaces inspired by East Asian woodland planting. This area will incorporate a water feature, event space, and an expanded external café seating area, as outlined in the planning application.

Additionally, a garden classroom will be constructed for use by schools, community groups, and volunteers, with a focus on accommodating the thousands of schoolchildren who visit the museum annually. Tate Britain's director, Maria Balshaw, emphasized that the garden project presents an exceptional opportunity to enhance the museum's front and create a welcoming space for all visitors.

The city council's Planning Committee unanimously approved the plans but requested that the Tate involve Westminster residents in the redevelopment process. Tate Britain, the oldest of the four Tate galleries, attracts around 1 million visitors each year, including over 200,000 schoolchildren. The application will be reviewed by Westminster City Council's Licensing Committee on 30 September.