A unanimous win for Kengo Kuma and his team....
We have had such fun working with the National Gallery team to help them find their architects for Project Domani, the new wing that will be situated between Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.
We are delighted to announce that the Jury Panel comprising John Booth - Chair, Céline Condorelli, Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Lady Patty Hopkins, Sir John Kingman, Dame Diana Lees and David Marks has selected Kengo Kuma and Associates (Japan) with BDP (UK) and MICA (UK) as the winners of this competition.
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KKAA competition design images
It has been a real privilege to spend the past nine months as a member of the Gallery's project team, working alongside Hannah Lawson from Lawson Ward Studio to develop the brief; with Nick Bridle and Jason Waddy of G&T to develop the competition documentation; with the Gallery's project team of Sarah Younger, Sarah O'Reilly, Catherine Tomlinson and Jess Hancock to steer a smooth route through the whole process; and with Adrian Ellis of AEAConsulting for his pearls of wisdom. I wish Gabriele Finaldi and his Executive team (most especially Christine Riding and Paul Gray) much success going forward.
Thank you again for the opportunity!
Five other teams were shortlisted:
- Farshid Moussavi Architecture with Piercy & Company (both UK)
- Foster + Partners (UK)
- Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Italy) with William Matthews Associates (UK) and Adamson Associates (UK)
- Selldorf Architects (USA) with Purcell (UK)
- Studio Seilern Architects (UK) with Donald Insall Associates (UK) and Vista Building Safety Ltd (UK) and Ralph Appelbaum Associates (UK)
In its citation, the Jury Panel commented :
“The design is both innovative and beautiful, meeting the ambition and sensitivity required for an international gallery commission. It is respectful of the Sainsbury Wing galleries ... and the approach to the public realm and roof garden creates a generous presence, enhanced by trees and greenery. The thoughtful design of the external spaces, with links to Leicester Square, evokes an open visitor welcome which is further enhanced using Portland stone and stepped massing, which shows sensitivity to the surrounding streets and allows natural light to be drawn into the building.
“The style of the galleries is very simple and clean, with a contrast between the main floor that incorporates vaults and arches, while the upper floor has a more geometric design. As a result, the main floor of galleries presents a continuum with the Sainsbury Wing and North Galleries, but the upper floor has its own style, which adds variety and a change of design pace to the overall scheme.”
“Kengo Kuma’s trajectory as an architect demonstrates exceptional design elegance, a keen sensitivity to location and to history, and a supremely beautiful handling of light and of materials. The new building will complete the National Gallery’s campus, adding distinction to some already distinguished buildings. We are thrilled to be working with Kengo Kuma and his design partners, BDP and MICA, on this exciting new development for the nation’s Gallery and for central London.”
— Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director, The National Gallery
"The Jury’s exciting and challenging task was to assess design submissions from six of the world’s finest architects and their partners. All six were impressive and thoughtful, but in the end Kengo Kuma’s proposal was our unanimous choice. A beautiful design inside and out, sensitive to our existing Grade 1 exteriors and distinctive gallery spaces, the new building will also help to unite two of London’s most important outdoor spaces — Leicester and Trafalgar Squares — by creating enticing new public realm between them.”
— John Booth, Chair, The National Gallery Trustees and Jury Chair