New designer for Turner centre chosen

New plans for a Turner Centre in Margate emerged today after the former design was ditched by the client due to spiralling costs, from an initial budget of £20m to £50m.

Client Kent Councty Council has selected architect David Chipperfield to design a new gallery, whose budget will be a more modest £15m. Chipperfield beat a shortlist of architects that included Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Cheney Thorpe and Morrison, John McAsalan and partners and Patel Taylor.

The scheme will site on a site to the east of the former car park site on Margate's seafront. Council cabinet member for communities Mike Hill said: “The standard of all six architects was exceptionally high and showed real appreciation of what we are hoping to achieve. I am delighted to be welcoming David Chipperfield Architects on board and look forward to working with them in the coming months to produce a design of which we can all be proud and which will bring real benefits to Thanet.”