The new Tate Modern in pictures

Every year the Tate Modern in London attracts five million visitors. The new extension, known as the Switch House, costs upwards of 260 million pounds (329 million euros, $368 million) and is set to help the museum house not only scores of guests, but also a greater variety of artwork.

The new Switch House is a modern, pyramid-shaped extension to the main museum building, which was constructed out of a disused power station. It increases the Tate Modern's exhibition space by 60 percent.

Just like the original Tate Modern, the Switch House was designed by the Swiss Architects of Herzog & de Meuron. The concrete, wood and brick construction was supervised by German architect Ascan Mergenthaler, who is a partner at Herzog & de Meuron.

Some 336,000 bricks were used for the Tate Modern extension. For the new building, the architects did away with rigid walls, envisioning a unique texture with a perforated pattern of tiles.

Seven double-decker buses could fit on top of each other in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern. The massive space is currently home to the seven-meter-high (23-foot) tree sculpture by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

Visitors at the Tate Modern will get closer to the exhibits than ever before - by participating in some of them themselves. Performance art is planned for in the new building, inviting guests to be part of interactive installations.

This year, Frances Morris became the first woman to join the Tate Modern's panel of directors. Her aim is to feature more women in exhibitions, including sculptor Louise Bourgeois, whose work is pictured.

As part of the museum's new concept, the "Tate Exchange" launches in September. Artists will plan their own culture program together with external organizations, including NGOs, education institutes and others.