Kengo Kuma to Design New Wing for London’s National Gallery

The National Gallery in London is embarking on its largest transformation in two centuries. Kengo Kuma and Associates have won the commission to design a new wing.

Working with BDP and MICA, the Tokyo-based practice will expand the museum on the site of the former St Vincent House complex. This site sits behind the Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries as part of the ambitious Project Domani campaign.

The project aims to redefine the gallery for the next century. It blends contemporary design with respect for the historic streetscape.

Project scope and collaborating studios

Kuma’s team will partner with BDP and MICA to deliver a wing that respects the museum’s 200-year legacy. The new wing will provide a modern, flexible home for future exhibitions, education, and public programs.

The site is located behind the recently updated Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries. The design weaves the new intervention into the surrounding urban fabric, with careful consideration of Leicester Square and the broader cultural precinct in central London.

Architectural concept and exterior strategy

The initial renders reveal a bold yet contextual language. The design features a textured entrance volume punctuated by glazed openings.

A landscaped garden and generous external areas clad in Portland stone visually connect the new wing to the existing buildings. These spaces provide a high-quality public realm.

The jury described the concept as exemplary, praising its beauty, innovation, and sensitivity to the Sainsbury Wing and surrounding streetscape.

External spaces are conceived as inviting, light-filled environments. A roof garden adds greenery at height and strengthens the rhythm of daylight across the complex.

By linking to the city’s pedestrian routes, the design draws natural light deep into the interior. This creates an open, welcoming posture for visitors and nearby residents.

• Textured entrance volume with carefully scaled glazing to frame views and choreograph arrival sequences
• Landscaped areas and a roof garden to extend the gallery outdoors and improve microclimate
• Material strategy anchored in Portland stone to harmonize with the adjacent historic fabric
• A public realm that connects the Sainsbury Wing to the new elevation and Leicester Square context

Public realm, exterior spaces and daylight

The project emphasizes a generous public realm, with exterior terraces and walking routes designed to enliven the city edge. These features reinforce accessibility and wayfinding.

The external strategy prioritizes human-scale experiences at ground level. It encourages encounters with art, architecture, and nature.

The roof garden serves as a luminous counterpoint to the street. It introduces trees and seasonal greenery to the upper levels.

Interior gallery language and spatial strategy

Internally, the gallery program follows a deliberate hierarchy of spaces that align with existing galleries. It introduces a contemporary sensibility.

The main floor is organized to preserve continuity with the Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries through vaults and arches. This creates a readable sequence that respects historical volumes.

The upper floor adopts a more distinctive geometric treatment. This provides variety and a new pace for visitors as they ascend the building.

The interior finishes are intended to be simple and clean. This supports the display of historical works and contemporary commissions without competing with the art.

This restrained material approach ensures the new wing remains legible within the broader gallery family. It enables flexible reconfiguration for changing curatorial needs.

• Vaults and arches on the main floor to establish a seamless continuum with the existing Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries
• Upper-floor geometry adds architectural variety and a refreshed visitor experience
• Calm, minimal finishes to emphasize the artworks and improve environmental stability
• Circulation and wayfinding designed for clarity and comfort in high-traffic conditions

Context, competition timeline and next steps

Project Domani is a £750 million fundraising and development campaign. It aims to redefine the National Gallery for the next hundred years.

The competition’s shortlisting in September 2025 featured leading offices such as Foster + Partners and Selldorf Architects. Selldorf Architects recently completed a remodel of the Sainsbury Wing, which sparked conversations about modern interventions in historic settings.

Renders for the announcement were produced by Kin Creatives. This highlights the project’s international design ambitions and the gallery’s goal to balance global voices with local identity.

Kuma’s winning proposal will help the National Gallery expand its exhibition capacity. It will also deepen public engagement and reinforce the gallery’s role as a cultural anchor in London.

The scheme shows how a contemporary, contextually aware wing can be integrated with historic galleries. This creates a cohesive, light-filled public space that supports conservation, research, and education.

 
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