Stirling Prize: National Portrait Gallery is our sixth shortlisted project in three years!

New entrance to National Portrait Gallery viewed from the street.

We are delighted that the National Portrait Gallery has been shortlisted for the UK's most prestigious architecture award, the RIBA Stirling Prize. 

This is our sixth project to be shortlisted for the coveted prize in the last three years, after Central Somers Town, A House for Artists and the Courtauld Institute of Art were shortlisted in 2023. Sands End Arts and Community Centre and Magdalene College New Library were shortlisted in 2022 — with Magdalene College New Library named the winner that year. 
 

Reimagining a historic cultural institution

Judges praised the 'sensitive and climate-aware reconfiguration' and the 'seamless blend of contemporary design and conservation of historical elements' that have reinvigorated the Grade I*-listed gallery.

They said: "The project is transformative yet respectful, stripping back unsympathetic alterations and taking cues from the original design to inform the new interventions. A key move is the creation of a new main entrance and forecourt on the Italianate north elevation, achieved by turning three windows into bronze doorways and adding an entrance bridge. This sets up a new arrivals sequence and access to a repositioned shop.

"A thorough re-think of underused space has created 18% more public space, including the restoration of offices to galleries in the Weston Wing, and the creation of an enhanced lower-ground-floor learning centre. All galleries are restored with new showcases, plinths and seating, with particular emphasis on careful reintroduction of natural light. Unshowy and assured, this forensic reworking gives a much-loved institution a fresh way forward." 

Better conditions and greater functionality

The National Portrait Gallery houses the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Our goal was to improve the internal conditions of the gallery in the most sustainable, energy-efficient, and sensitive way possible.

The redevelopment included the creation of a new public forecourt, a spacious entrance hall, new retail and catering facilities, and a new learning centre. Office spaces have been converted into beautiful, top-lit galleries on the first floor, extending the public gallery space by around 20%. There has been a complete re-hang and reinterpretation of the extensive collection of artworks across 40 refurbished galleries which now presents an updated and more diverse selection of portraits.

We were tasked with integrating state-of-the-art engineering systems as well as safely reintroducing daylight into the galleries through windows which had been hidden for nearly 100 years.

For significant heritage projects of this scale, our engineering solutions need to be sympathetic and inventive. We strove to find the right balance between providing better conditions and greater functionality, while respecting the historic fabric of the building.

The project achieved an A+ LETI benchmark rating, and saw an increase in 357% of visitors with disabilities in the 12 months after the gallery reopened, and a 200% increase in schoolchildren during its first summer season.