Located directly on the sea front, on a site once occupied by a guesthouse frequented by Turner, the design takes maximum advantage of the dramatic setting and its extraordinary views, making strong connections both to the sea and the town.

Positioned on a plinth to protect against flooding, the building comprises six interlocking rectangular forms and has a strong sculptural presence on the site. The roofline, which forms the silhouette of the building, has been designed to enable northern light to be brought into all the gallery spaces at the first floor level. The choice of opaque white glass as the cladding material was influenced by the nature of the building, its location and light.

There are panoramic views out to sea, as well as towards the town and the bay from the cafe and entrance area. On the ground floor a double height gallery provides a spectacular space in which to showcase works; a large events space with an external terrace will be available for weddings, corporate hire and film screenings.

The first floor houses environmentally controlled gallery spaces as well as the learning studio. This floor also features a balcony that cantilevers over the ground floor gallery and boasts spectacular views out to sea. Back-of-house spaces including offices, storage and workshops, have been placed on both floors. These areas will not be accessible to members of the public but are critical for the smooth operation of the gallery.

Having been appointed in 2006, David Chipperfield Architects developed an elegant, inspiring design that took full advantage of the gallery’s exceptional location on Margate’s seafront.

At a public meeting in June 2007 local residents joined the design discussions (in total over 8,000 people were engaged in the consultation process). Later, in October, David Chipperfield revealed the final design, highlighting the key elements of the build:"We have developed the design to take maximum advantage of such a dramatic setting with its extraordinary views. Our building will look out to the sea, connect itself to the town and capture the same unique light that inspired Turner."

Responsibility for the build process lay with key funder, Kent County Council. Mike Hill OBE, Cabinet Member for Communities said "We are all incredibly excited about how the architects have responded to the many challenges and opportunities of this unique location to create such a stunning design."