Project Domani | National Gallery’s New Wing | Kengo Kuma and associates

A new wing of the National Gallery and transformation of surrounding public areas Our ambition is to create an architecturally distinguished, sustainable, and state-of-the-art new wing and public space. The National Gallery’s renowned collection of great paintings and our ambition to develop this further for the benefit of a larger, more diverse public, demands a space that not only preserves and displays the artwork, but also elevates the visitor experience, enhancing the Gallery’s status as one of the most-visited museums in the world. The new wing will be built on the last remaining part of the National Gallery campus: St Vincent House. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago, for the purpose of expanding gallery space, and currently houses a hotel and office complex. The project aims to invigorate this corner of central London, connecting Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. Embedding the Gallery as a cornerstone within London’s arts quarter, it will also cement our reputation as a leader in the art world and the UK’s commitment to culture and heritage. Project Domani will revitalise the area between the two squares, creating a vibrant, fresh experience for visitors. The new wing will benefit from the dramatic advances made in building techniques and sustainability during recent decades. It will be a landmark of both local and international significance, enriching the nation’s artistic presence on a global scale.

Developing the collection

The development of our collection is also a key aim of the project. At present, the Gallery is home to a world-renowned collection of great paintings, and it is our ambition to continue to develop and extend our collection. For this, we require a new space that not only preserves and displays the artwork, but also elevates the visitor experience. By creating opportunities for unique programming, community engagement, national and international partnerships, this new chapter will redefine how art is experienced and celebrated. With this new physical and artistic expansion, we are reaffirming our commitment to the public. We will broaden our engagement with local, national and international visitors through enhanced displays, exhibitions, research, public programmes and educational initiatives. For the benefit of audiences everywhere, the National Gallery will be the one place in the world that presents the history of Western painting in a comprehensive and dynamic way, where the beauty and drama of extraordinary paintings is presented against the timeless and enduring backdrop of great architecture. The story of painting is a continuum – it reflects how artists and the societies in which they lived have responded to myth and religion, history and contemporary events, landscape and the human form, and to the tradition of art itself – and that is why it is necessary for the National Gallery to continue to evolve and extend the story it tells. In the largest and most significant transformation of the National Gallery since its formation 200 years ago, Project Domani also includes the move to extend its historic collection beyond 1900, making it the only museum in the world which exclusively displays paintings, where visitors will be able to view the entire history of painting in the Western tradition.