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Work Starts on Turner Contemporary
01 Oct 2005
James Mallord William Turner was on board a Margate steamer to sketch the passage of HMSTemeraire as it was towed upriver by a smoke belching 'modern' steam tug on 6 September 1838. The 'ship that saved Victory' at the Battle of Trafalgar was on a last voyage to Beatson's ship breaking yard at Rotherhithe. The work which resulted from Turner's observations that day, Fighting Temeraire , has just been voted Britain's favourite painting.
Margate has not forgotten its favourite son, and in close coincidence with the honour for his painting has come commencement of construction on Turner Contemporary, an iconic gallery spanning sea and pier on the edge of Margate Harbour.
Kent County Council and the Kent Architecture Centre launched an international architectural competition to design the new building in 2001 and the sail-like winning entry by Snohetta AS of Norway and Spence Associates of London places an organic, sculptural form in a prominent waterfront location. The design team also includes civil and structural engineers Whitybybird, mechanical and electrical engineers BDSP, marine and environmental engineers Ove Arup & Partners, fire risk consultants Warrington Fire Research, and geotechnical and environmental consultants Babtie.
The gallery building will be constructed in steel at a shipyard and floated into position in the harbour. A cafe, restaurant, shop and administrative block will all be housed atop a stone pier, with the two separate buildings linked by a wide glass bridge which will also double as gallery space.
The gallery, pier, seabed and coastline have been modelled and tested in a wave tank at HR Wallingford. Because the seaward gallery will be housing irreplaceable works of art, the design has been tested to withstand a 'one in 10,000 year' storm.
Edmund Nuttall Ltd is the main contractor for a project with £25m total value. Nuttall established a site office and plant compound on site last month while also starting investigation work on the existing pier to determine the level of strengthening required. Nuttall has contracted consultants Scott Wilson to work alongside the construction team and advise on design issues. There will be extensive works in the harbour to create foundations for the gallery building.
Turner Contemporary is expected to attract some 195,000 visitors per year. There will be three floors of gallery space, each with views out to sea, housing a changing programme of temporary exhibitions with three core strands; JMW Turner, historical work post 1750, and contemporary work.
The gallery building is due to be towed into Margate Harbour in autumn of next year and set on its foundations. Fitting out will then commence, with Turner Contemporary due to open in 2007.
MJ Information No: 21126
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