The National Gallery has named Kengo Kuma and Associates, working with BDP and MICA, as the winner of the competition to design its new wing under Project Domani. The scheme is part of a £750 million campaign and will be subject to ratification after a standstill period ending 16 April 2026.
According to the National Gallery, the competition drew 65 submissions, from which six firms were shortlisted before the final decision was reached. The winning proposal was described by the jury as “exemplary,” and it received the highest available score.
The new wing will be built on the site of St Vincent House, the last remaining part of the Gallery’s current campus at 30 Orange Street. The Gallery says the project will also help it extend its collection beyond 1900, making it possible for visitors to see the full history of painting in the Western tradition in one place.
Jury’s view
The jury praised the design for being “innovative and beautiful” while remaining sensitive to the existing Sainsbury Wing galleries and the surrounding streetscape. It also highlighted the use of Portland stone, stepped massing, roof-garden greenery, and a public realm strategy linking Leicester Square with Trafalgar Square.
On the interiors, the jury said the galleries are “simple and clean,” with vaults and arches on the main floor and a more geometric upper floor. The panel also said the proposal showed a strong and measurable social value plan, including sustainability and a Climate & Social Action Design Framework.
Funding and scale
The National Gallery says Project Domani is backed by £375 million already raised, including £150 million from Crankstart and £150 million from the Julia Rausing Trust. A further £75 million has come from the National Gallery Trust, National Gallery Chair John Booth, and other donors who have chosen to remain anonymous.
Gallery director Sir Gabriele Finaldi said the campaign is intended to redefine the National Gallery for the next century through new spaces, an acquisitions fund for modern paintings, and a stronger endowment. The Gallery says the project is its largest and most significant transformation in 200 years.
Architect team
Kengo Kuma and Associates is a Tokyo-based practice founded in 1990 and known for cultural and civic work, including projects such as V&A Dundee. BDP is a multidisciplinary design firm with international studios, and MICA is an award-winning architectural practice with experience across museum, urban, and interior design.
The National Gallery’s official press release confirms that the final architect and wider technical team are expected to be appointed by April 2026. That means the current announcement is the competition result, not the final construction start date.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
