This week the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing reopens after two years of closure. During this time, work has taken place to provide a better and more welcoming first experience to the Gallery’s millions of visitors – and from 10 May the Sainsbury Wing will be the new main entrance to what is recognised as one of the greatest art galleries in the world.
The Sainsbury Wing closed in February 2023 to undergo sensitive interventions, which have been designed by New York-based Selldorf Architects working with heritage architects Purcell.
At the entrance, some of the Gallery’s footprint has been given over to public realm, creating a ‘square-within-a-square’, and leading to a more spacious entrance to the Gallery. The original dark glass of the stairs up to the gallery spaces has been replaced with clear glazing, bringing daylight across the foyer while revealing subtle views of the 1830s National Gallery building by William Wilkins (1778‒1839). The glazing also allows people in Trafalgar Square to see directly into the Gallery for the first time.
This entrance opens into a new double-height foyer, which is larger, more open and brightly lit, and which includes a 12-metre wide, 16K screen showing astounding details of National Gallery paintings.
A new restaurant, book shop and bar can be found on the mezzanine level, and this is also where Paula Rego’s (1935‒2022) Crivelli’s Garden (1990‒91) is displayed. Rego was the National Gallery’s first Associate Artist and was inspired to create the work by looking at Renaissance paintings by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5 ‒ about 1494) for the Sainsbury Wing Dining Room on its original opening in 1991.
The palette of high-quality materials used throughout the new spaces includes the same grey Florentine limestone (pietra serena) employed in the Venturi-Scott Brown designed gallery spaces, along with Chamesson limestone from northern Burgundy, slate, oak and black granite. Wherever possible existing materials have been re-used, recycled or repurposed in other building projects.
The project has been made possible thanks to support from many generous donations, from both major benefactors and members of the public. In particular, The Linbury Trust and The Headley Trust which, together with The Monument Trust, funded the original establishment of the Sainsbury Wing 35 years ago. They have been instrumental in helping the Gallery to realise the evolution of the building for its changing visitor needs.
Sir Timothy Sainsbury said: “The remodelled ground floor and mezzanine floor now provide a much larger and more welcoming entrance for the millions of visitors expected every year; a fitting introduction to the magnificent gallery spaces which remain unchanged. The Headley Trust and The Linbury Trust welcome the redesign and are pleased to continue to support the Sainsbury Wing towards its next 35 years and beyond.”
Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said: “From 10 May, the Sainsbury Wing will be the main entrance to the National Gallery. Thanks to the reimagining of the exterior and interior spaces by architect Annabelle Selldorf, millions of visitors will be welcomed into the newly configured and subtly refurbished spaces, double height and brightly lit, and en route to exploring the Gallery’s superb painting collection from Giotto to Monet.”
Annabelle Selldorf said: “We are honoured to have contributed to making the Sainsbury Wing more welcoming and accessible and are looking forward to visitors enjoying a new light filled and seamless experience as they discover the magnificent collection of the National Gallery and all that it has to offer.”
For further information: nationalgallery.org.uk
Image: The Sainsbury Wing Foyer (looking north) © The National Gallery, London. Photo Edmund Sumner
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