I have lived in London long enough to know a city without Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge or Eye, City Hall and many other iconic Riverside constructions and I remember the buzz when it first opened.
I had visited quite a few museums by then and yet I had never experienced a place like the Turbine Hall (in the context of a museum). I remember wondering about the kind of art that would be displayed in it.
Truthfully, I would have never imagined the commissions that followed since... Eliasson's weather project, Si Wei Wei's sunflower seeds, Salcedo's Shibboleth, Walker's Fons Americanus .or the insightful "Global Cities" exhibition are just a few of my favourites so far.
The Turbine Hall makes Tate Modern and yet, I wonder how many times someone mentioned it was not the most efficient use of space.
I am for ever grateful that they had the insight to listen to their Architects, not only because the result gave room to many magical moments but also because it is proof that Architects do more than pretty pictures and can contribute to projects in a very positive manner when they are able to realize their insight.
