Director hints at Tate construction delay

Directors at the Tate Modern have revealed a significantly different plan for the new extension to the gallery.

Directors at the Tate Modern have revealed a significantly different plan for the new extension to the gallery.

Originally proposed was a 'glass box', but the south bank institution is now planning a 'brick pyramid' to be built in front of the iconic gallery.

However, despite the new designs, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota has hinted that construction may not be finished until 2014; two years after the date original completion date.

"This is the most challenging time to get money", said Sir Nicholas regarding the possibilities of a delay to construction.

"But we are talking to individuals who have the ability and the will to help."

The credit crunch has long been the scourge of the construction industry, leading to several thousand employee redundancies this year alone, but to see the affects hitting public institutions is something new.

The project's architect is Jacques Herzog, who defended the decision to use brick for the new pyramid design: "It's a cool material. It's not used much anymore by anybody. We're happy about the change in material, and we really think we can use it in a new way."