Westminster City Council has granted planning permission for a new pier located in front of Tate Britain at Millbank, commissioned from the award-winning architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, designers of the BA London Eye. The pier will provide a new boat service linking Tate Britain and Tate Modern, and will also serve other businesses and organisations in the area.
The Millbank Pier will open in Spring 2002, following the opening of Tate Britain’s Centenary Development on 1 November 2001.
Dramatically designed from welded steel, the 30-metre silver structure features a specially commissioned lighting installation by artist Angela Bulloch, who was shortlisted for the 1997 Turner Prize. Fluorescent tubing embedded into the floor of the pontoon will be computer programmed to provide changing lighting effects on the structure at night.
The pier is commissioned by London River Services with the support of Westminster City Council, Government Office for London and the Cross River Partnership with funds from the Millennium Commission, Tishman Speyer and Tate.
Architects: Marks Barfield Architects
Marine Engineers: Beckett Rankine Partnership
Artist: Angela Bulloch