Tate today unveiled the first-stage designs for the new Clore Garden at Tate Britain by landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith Studio and architects Feilden Fowles. The designs were developed and discussed at a series of public consultation events held at Tate Britain.
Realised in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and made possible by generous funding from the Clore Duffield Foundation, the new Clore Garden will transform the landscape in front of Tate Britain. It will offer a beautiful and inviting new green space for visitors and residents to enjoy.
Placing nature, art and community at its centre, the new garden will be a rich, varied environment carefully designed to complement and enhance the gallery’s neo-classical architecture and withstand the UK’s changing climate.
The new Clore Garden features an organic pattern of luxuriantly planted spaces and a network of fully accessible pathways to explore. A reimagined café terrace and a freestanding classroom are included, as well as space for outdoor programmes, talks and activities.
Art and horticulture will be brought together, with sculptures by iconic British artists from Tate’s collection integrated throughout the landscape. A generous amount of seating is also incorporated into the design, including restful spaces to relax and unwind, and an interactive water feature and bench circle to encourage socialising and play.
Sustainability is at the heart of the project. The new Clore Garden’s fluid design will enhance Millbank’s biodiversity, adding herbaceous planting, flowers, and trees alongside a wildlife pond.
Working in close consultation with the RHS and drawing on its plant research, advisory, and community outreach work, Stuart-Smith will select a wide variety of plant species to be enjoyed year-round, from magnolias and blossoms in spring, to seed heads and evergreens in winter. Recycled and sustainable materials will be present throughout, with pathways made from reclaimed site materials.
A highlight will be the introduction of a new single-storey, lightweight garden classroom by architecture studio Feilden Fowles. This will offer a flexible sheltered space for learning activities opening out directly onto the garden, where regular workshops for school groups and adult learners will explore the connections between art and nature, fostering creativity and collaboration.
Alex Farquharson, Director of Tate Britain, said, “We are enormously excited to share a first look at designs for Tate Britain’s new garden, a significant green space uniting art and nature and encouraging biodiversity. These sumptuous, innovative designs demonstrate the role museums can play in our cities, places where contemplation and relaxation can go hand in hand with joy and creativity. We hope the garden will offer new ways to engage with Tate’s Collection, for both visitors and local residents alike.”
Tom Stuart-Smith added, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to create a haven for people, plants and sculpture right in the heart of London and to transform the setting of the gallery into a beautiful garden that is really engaging, biodiverse and sustainable.”
Tom Stuart-Smith Studio and Feilden Fowles were selected at the start of 2024 following an open competition.
Image credits: Designs for the Tate Britain Clore Garden. Image courtesy of Tom Stuart-Smith Studio.
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