The impressive turbine hall is a dominant feature

The exhibits are illuminated by natural light from a translucent roof.

The two Swiss architects behind the conversion of Tate Modern from a power station, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, won the prestigious Pritzker prize this year for their "talent, vision and commitment".

Visitor boost

The Tate Modern has helped push visitor numbers to England's museums and galleries up by 20 per cent in the past year.

Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota told the Evening Standard in a recent interview that Tate Modern has some major challenges ahead.

"The principal challenge now is going to be to make the exhibitions that people expect to be there - and expectations are very high, namely that Tate Modern will deliver some memorable shows."

Surreal show

One such show will be this autumn's Surrealism: Desire Unbound - the first major exhibition of international surrealism in London for over 20 years.

This is London's first museum of modern art

Additional interest will come from pop star Madonna's loan of Self-Portrait with Monkey by Mexican artist Frida Kahloa from her private collection.

The painting, one of around 450 works on display from 20 September to 16 December, depicts Kahlo with a monkey round her neck and has not been seen by the public for a decade.

But not all the exhibitions from the first 12 months have had the same acclaim as the building in which they are housed.

Critics disliked the recent Century City exhibition, the Tate Modern's first major loan show. It revealed how cities as diverse as Moscow, New York, Lagos and Tokyo flourished at different points during the 20th century.

Even more controversial was the Tate's decision to shows its collection in four themed groups instead of the traditional chronological order.

But with major works by Dali, Picasso, Matisse, and Warhol alongside artists such as David Hockney and Tracey Emin, the Tate Modern's continuing popularity looks secure.