New York-based Selldorf Architects has accomplished its “dynamic and thrilling” transformation of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown’s Sainsbury Wing at London’s Nationwide Gallery.
Opening to the general public on 10 Could, Selldorf Architects aimed to make the postmodern gallery wing extra welcoming by rising pure gentle and sight traces across the area.
The transform, which was closely criticised when it was first introduced in 2022 and was later revised, included opening up the bottom ground by eradicating non-structural columns. It additionally diminished the primary ground to a curved mezzanine and changed dark-tinted glass with clear glass.
“The connection of what’s now the mezzanine to the bottom ground is extremely thrilling as a result of there may be visible connectivity, however there may be additionally sound that travels,” stated Selldorf Architects founder Annabelle Selldorf advised Dezeen.
“In a single fell swoop, the journey as much as the galleries is a lot extra dynamic and thrilling.”
Initially designed by American architects Venturi and Brown, the Grade I-listed Sainsbury Wing opened in 1991 as an extension to the Nationwide Gallery’s Wilkins constructing.
Though not its meant goal, the Sainsbury Wing turned the museum’s primary entrance in 2017, and subsequently, Selldorf Architects was appointed to remodel the area to make it higher suited to greeting rising customer numbers.
“[There was] an excessive amount of fascinated with the relevance of the unique structure, the connection of the Venturi-Scott Brown constructing to the Wilkins constructing, tips on how to make issues extra related, and tips on how to give folks the best freedom once they are available in to do as they please – and so they please otherwise now than they did 30 years in the past,” stated Selldorf.
Selldorf Architects labored with UK structure studio Purcell to protect among the constructing’s unique options. Two current rusticated columns, Egyptian motif columns and an incised limestone donor wall have been relocated elsewhere within the gallery.
The primary ground was reduce to a curving mezzanine to create a double-height lobby on the entrance.
Some non-structural columns have been eliminated, whereas the remaining columns have been diminished in width to assist open up the bottom ground, which incorporates a restaurant, lounge space, museum store and knowledge desk.
The constructing’s current staircase leads from the lobby to a bookshop, bar and restaurant on the mezzanine, in addition to the unique gallery areas on the highest ground.
A glazed facade stretches alongside the staircase, the place unique dark-tinted glass planes have been changed with clear glass to assist illuminate the double-height lobby with pure gentle and provides views of the adjoining Wilkins Constructing and Trafalgar Sq..
“This constructing is within the very prime tier of essentially the most particular buildings on this nation, and it’s totally nicely liked,” stated Purcell companion Alasdair Travers.
“It is also a really latest constructing, however on the identical time, it wanted to alter fairly considerably.”
“Everyone agreed that the low area whenever you entered the constructing prevented folks from feeling assured in shifting ahead and even staying within the area,” added Selldorf.
Pietra Serena limestone was used on the bottom ground columns to match the present columns on the ground above.
“We needed to point out that the construction is one thing that goes by the constructing, and as we eliminated slabs, we revealed continuity of the structural components,” stated Selldorf.
“We introduced the Pietra Serena on the highest ground down all the best way to the bottom ground, and that appears like one thing that communicates to the customer that there’s the factor that retains the constructing upright and standing.”
“There is a normal sense of logic to how supplies are distributed that connects to what was there already,” she continued.
Within the basement degree, Selldorf Architects up to date a theatre by changing the carpet, seat upholstery and lights. Public bogs on this ground have been moved elsewhere to extend the scale of the theatre ready space.
A set of black gates on the Sainsbury Wing’s entrance have been repainted gray to assist spotlight the place the entry level is.
Selldorf Architects’ design for the gallery was described as “an act of vandalism” when unveiled in 2022, with Scott Brown amongst these campaigning for planners to refuse planning approval, calling the plans “harmful”.
“A lot of this rigorously orchestrated motion of the customer by the constructing will probably be misplaced ought to the present proposals be accredited and the harmful, irreversible demolitions be allowed to proceed to this Grade I-listed constructing,” she wrote.
Eight former RIBA presidents additionally opposed the revamp, saying it could flip the Sainsbury Wing into an “airport lounge”.
Final yr, a decades-old letter written by donor John Sainsbury criticising Venturi and Scott Brown’s design was present in a false column throughout renovation works.
Selldorf Architects has additionally lately accomplished a renovation and extension to The Frick Assortment in New York. Selldorf spoke with Dezeen about her expertise engaged on two hotly debated artwork gallery transformations.
The images is by Edmund Sumner.
Challenge credit:
Design architect: Selldorf Architects
Heritage architect: Purcell
Panorama design: Vogt
Challenge supervisor: The NG200 Challenge
Development supervisor: Gardiner & Theobald
Structural, providers, sustainability and acoustic engineers: Arup
Lighting advisor: L’Observatoire Worldwide
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