The National Gallery in London has selected Kengo Kuma and associates, in collaboration with BDP and MICA, to design its New Wing new wing as part of Project Domani, a £750 million transformation set to redefine the museum for the next century.
Conceived as the most significant evolution of the institution since its founding over 200 years ago, the project will expand the Gallery’s collection beyond 1900, allowing visitors to experience a continuous narrative of Western painting within a single institution.
A new urban threshold
The new building will rise on the site of St Vincent House, completing the National Gallery’s campus while establishing a new relationship between Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.
Kengo Kuma’s proposal introduces a carefully articulated volume defined by stepped massing and Portland stone, responding sensitively to the surrounding urban fabric. The architecture extends into the public realm through landscaped terraces and a roof garden, creating a porous and welcoming edge to the city.
Trees, greenery, and open circulation paths transform the project into more than an extension—into a civic landscape that invites movement, pause, and encounter.
Artist's impression of the rooftop. ©Kin Creatives. Courtesy of The National Gallery
Light, continuity, and contrast
Inside, the design balances continuity with distinction.
The lower galleries adopt a language of vaults and arches, establishing a spatial dialogue with the existing Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries. Above, a more geometric and contemporary sequence introduces variation, allowing the visitor to experience a gradual shift in atmosphere and rhythm.
Natural light is carefully drawn into the building, reinforcing the clarity and calmness of the exhibition spaces while maintaining a strong connection to the exterior.
Architecture as social infrastructure
Beyond its architectural qualities, the project embeds a strong social and environmental agenda.
A dedicated framework integrates sustainability and social value throughout the lifecycle of the building, aligning with broader institutional goals and future developments.
The jury described the proposal as both “innovative and beautiful,” highlighting its ability to combine architectural sensitivity with a clear strategy for public engagement and long-term impact.
A new chapter for the National Gallery
For Kengo Kuma, the commission represents both an opportunity and a responsibility: to extend one of the world’s most important collections while respecting its historical and cultural significance.
When completed, the new wing will not simply add space. It will redefine how the National Gallery is experienced—opening it further to the city, to light, and to time.
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Cover: Kengo Kuma Portrait, ©Photograph by J.C. Carbonne - Artist's impression of the entrance. ©Kin Creatives. Courtesy of The National Gallery
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