New Sainsbury Wing Exhibition Space
The National Gallery in London opened its new Sainsbury Wing Exhibition Space, balancing preservation with modernization NEW Sainsbury Wing Exhibition Space. The renovation enhances accessibility, both physical and digital, with improved virtual tours and online content.
The Sainsbury Wing, designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, first opened to the public in 1991 and was presented to the nation by the three Sainsbury brothers. The wing was built to house the National Gallery's collection of early Renaissance paintings. The recent renovation, part of the National Gallery's NG200 program for its bicentenary, aims to improve the visitor experience and make the space more welcoming. Selldorf Architects led the redesign, with Purcell serving as heritage architect. A key element of the renovation involved reconfiguring the entrance and lobby to improve circulation and increase publicly accessible floor space by approximately 60%. Two large, non-structural columns that once dominated the foyer were removed and relocated. Looking ahead, the National Gallery is planning a major new extension called Project Domani, which translates to "tomorrow" in Italian. The project, estimated to cost around £400 million, will house paintings from the 20th and 21st centuries, as the gallery expands its collection beyond 1900 for the first time. The new wing will be built on the site of St Vincent House, located between Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. The project has already secured £375 million in funding, including two £150 million donations from the Crankstart Foundation and the Julia Rausing Trust. An architectural competition has been launched to find a design team for the new wing, which is expected to open in the early 2030s. The new wing will be linked to the Sainsbury Wing.
