The National Gallery is expanding its empire in more ways than one. It has announced that the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is its designer for a new wing of the gallery which will house modern and contemporary art — paintings of the 20th and 21st century. It’ll cost £350 million, and it’s gratifying that at a time when museums are universally cash-strapped, the gallery has already attracted £375 million as part of a larger funding initiative. Donors like The Julia Rausing Trust have given generously, which says a lot about the charm and persuasiveness of the Director of the National Gallery, Sir Gabriele Finaldi.
There are two important aspects to this. One is the physical presence of the new gallery, in a strategic site between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. No one, but no one, will lament the replacement of the building on the site now, a hideous late-1960s block designed by Charles Pike — the site was bought by clever former director, Sir Neil Macgregor, 30 years ago, a far-sighted move. But there may be mixed views about Kuma’s design. The architect for the Tokyo Olympics stadium (and of a hideous portico to Angers cathedral) has come up with something that looks like the frontage for the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street.
