London’s National Gallery Announces Shortlist for Major Expansion
Today the National Gallery in London announced six shortlisted architects competing to design the new wing for Project Domani, a £750 million (roughly $1 billion) initiative set to produce the most significant changes the museum has seen in 200 years. The international competition attracted 65 submissions, with the winner to be revealed in April 2026.
The shortlist includes Farshid Moussavi Architecture—designers of the new Ismaili Center in Houston, featured on the cover of RECORD’s December issue—working in collaboration with Piercy & Company, and Selldorf Architects with Purcell. Notably, Selldorf recently completed a controversial renovation of the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, as well as an expansion and enhancement of the Frick Collection in New York. It is also one of five teams shortlisted for an addition to the Louvre in Paris.
Foster + Partners, Kengo Kuma and Associates with BDP, Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Adamson Associates, and Studio Seilern Architects complete the list.
The recently renovated Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery. Photo © Edmund Sumner
The new wing will be constructed on the last remaining part of the Gallery’s current campus at St. Vincent House, 30 Orange Street. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago, for the purpose of expanding gallery space and currently houses a hotel and office complex. The transformation will further revitalize the area between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, offering an improved experience for visitors.
“Project Domani will redefine the National Gallery for the next century… The National Gallery was formed to make great art accessible to all. With this new physical and artistic expansion, and with the invaluable help of our donors, we are reaffirming our commitment to the public,” said National Gallery Director, Sir Gabriele Finaldi.
Despite receiving the two largest ever publicly reported cash donations to a museum or gallery globally, totaling £300 million ($400 million), funding is still only halfway to the project’s goal.
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