The National Gallery in London has announced that the architectural firm Kengo Kuma and Associates, based in Tokyo, will design its new extension, which is projected to cost £350 million and is expected to open in the early 2030s.
Kuma’s firm was selected from a pool of 65 architects who submitted proposals during a competition initiated last September. In December, six firms were shortlisted, including Selldorf Architects from New York, known for their work on the refurbishment of the gallery’s Sainsbury Wing.
Garbriele Finaldi, the director of the National Gallery, remarked, “Kengo Kuma’s trajectory as an architect demonstrates exceptional design elegance, a keen sensitivity to location and to history, and a supremely beautiful handling of light and of materials.”
To assist in the project, two UK-based design firms, Building Design Partnership (BDP) and MICA, will collaborate with Kuma.
Details of the New Extension
The new extension will be situated just north of the Sainsbury Wing, which was completed in 1991, and will occupy the site of St Vincent House, a structure owned by the gallery that is slated for demolition. The exterior of the new building will be clad in light-colored Portland stone.
The ground floor of the extension will house public facilities and temporary exhibition galleries. With street-level access, the gallery will have the flexibility to extend opening hours for exhibitions beyond those of the permanent collection.
The main and upper floors will be dedicated to the permanent collection, featuring bridge links to both the Sainsbury Wing and the Wilkins building. These floors are anticipated to display artworks from the late 19th century to the present day. Recently, the National Gallery has shifted its acquisition strategy to include works created up to the current day, expanding its previous cutoff of around 1900.
A public roof garden will be located on the top level of the extension, offering views towards Leicester Square.
Architectural Features
The design of each floor will evoke a distinct atmosphere. The jury panel for the competition commented on Kuma’s proposal, stating, “The style of the galleries is very simple and clean, with a contrast between the main floor that incorporates vaults and arches, while the upper floor has a more geometric design. As a result, the main floor of galleries presents a continuum with the Sainsbury Wing and North [Wilkins] Galleries, but the upper floor has its own style, which adds variety and a change of design pace to the overall scheme.”
Increased Exhibition Space
The new extension will provide an additional 1,500 square meters for the permanent collection, increasing the total to 11,000 square meters when combined with the original Wilkins building and Sainsbury Wing, marking an increase of just over 15%.
For temporary exhibitions, the ground floor gallery will offer 800 square meters of space, nearly doubling the 450 square meters available in the basement gallery of the Sainsbury Wing. The Wilkins building also has 240 square meters of temporary exhibition space, allowing the National Gallery to host larger exhibitions or divide the area for smaller shows.
Kengo Kuma’s Vision
Kengo Kuma, the founder of the firm, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “It is a privilege to join the National Gallery in this historic project. The National Gallery’s collection is a treasure of humanity, and to be entrusted with the expansion that will hold these masterpieces is a responsibility we carry with the greatest care and humility.”
Broader Context of the Project
This extension is a crucial component of a larger £750 million initiative known as Domani, which translates to “tomorrow” in Italian. This project aims to establish an endowment fund to help the gallery avoid financial deficits. Recently, the gallery has implemented cost-cutting measures, including a voluntary exit scheme for staff, to address a projected deficit of £8.2 million by the fiscal year 2026-27.
- Museums
- National Gallery, London
- Museums & Heritage
- Museum expansions
- Architecture
Bildquelle: Bruna Santos auf Pexels
