The National Gallery in London has selected Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to design a major new wing as part of its ambitious £750m "Project Domani." Kuma, known for the Tokyo Olympic stadium and V&A Dundee, beat out high-profile competitors including Norman Foster and Renzo Piano. The expansion will occupy a site near Trafalgar Square currently housing a hotel and office complex, and is supported by record-breaking £150m donations from both the Julia Rausing Trust and the Crankstart foundation.
This project marks a historic shift for the National Gallery, as it officially moves to collect and display 20th and 21st-century paintings, effectively ending a long-standing agreement with the Tate. While the expansion aims to create the world's most comprehensive timeline of Western painting, it comes at a time of internal financial strain. Despite the massive capital fundraising for the new wing, the institution is facing an £8.2m deficit that may lead to job cuts and reduced programming.