kengo kuma’s Winning proposal for National Gallery expansion
Kengo Kuma and Associates with BDP and MICA wins the international competition to design a new wing for the National Gallery in London, as part of its £750 million Project Domani expansion. Selected from a shortlist of six teams among 65 submissions, the proposal was unanimously described by the jury as ‘exemplary’, combining architectural clarity with sensitivity to the institution’s historic fabric and urban context.
The project marks the most significant transformation of the National Gallery in its 200-year history, introducing new spaces for an expanded collection that will extend beyond 1900. With this shift, the museum will become the only institution dedicated exclusively to painting while presenting a continuous narrative of Western art, from its origins to the present.
renderings by Kin Creatives
Continuity, contrast, and urban connections
Kengo Kuma’s proposal negotiates continuity and contrast. The lower galleries adopt vaulted and arched forms that align with the spatial language of the adjacent Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries. In contrast, the upper levels introduce a more geometric expression, offering a change in rhythm and atmosphere as visitors move through the building.
Externally, the design by the Japanese architecture firm uses Portland stone and stepped massing to respond to the surrounding streets, while opening new connections between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. A series of landscaped public spaces and a roof garden introduce greenery into the dense urban setting, reinforcing the civic presence of the building and drawing natural light into the galleries. The jury particularly noted the generosity of the public realm and the clarity of the building’s urban gesture.
the project marks the most significant transformation of the National Gallery in its 200-year history
Project Domani: sustainability and future expansion
Alongside its architectural qualities, the proposal integrates a defined sustainability and social value strategy through a bespoke climate and social action design framework, embedding environmental and community considerations across the lifecycle of the project. The new wing will be built on the site of St. Vincent House, completing the National Gallery’s campus on land acquired nearly three decades ago for future expansion.
With £375 million already raised, including major philanthropic contributions, Project Domani positions the National Gallery for long-term growth while expanding its curatorial scope. Under the direction of Gabriele Finaldi, the collaboration with Kengo Kuma signals a measured yet forward-looking evolution of one of London’s most established cultural institutions.
Kengo Kuma’s proposal negotiates continuity and contrast
project info:
name: Project Domani, National Gallery | @nationalgallery New Wing
architect: Kengo Kuma & Associates | @kkaa_official
collaborators: BDP | @bdp_com, MICA | @mica_architects
location: London, UK