kengo kuma wins competition to expand london's national gallery with new wing

"Kengo Kuma's proposal negotiates continuity and contrast, with lower galleries adopting vaulted forms that align with the adjacent Sainsbury Wing, while upper levels introduce a geometric expression."

"The design uses Portland stone and stepped massing to respond to surrounding streets, creating new connections between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, and introducing landscaped public spaces."

"The jury noted the generosity of the public realm and the clarity of the building's urban gesture, emphasizing the importance of integrating greenery into the dense urban setting."

"This project marks the most significant transformation of the National Gallery in its 200-year history, expanding its collection beyond 1900 and presenting a continuous narrative of Western art."

Kengo Kuma and Associates, in collaboration with BDP and MICA, won the design competition for a new wing of the National Gallery in London. This project is part of the £750 million Project Domani expansion. The proposal was praised for its architectural clarity and sensitivity to the historic context. It introduces new spaces for an expanded collection, making the gallery the only institution dedicated exclusively to painting. The design features a blend of continuity and contrast, enhancing urban connections and public spaces.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine