The Sainsbury Wing.

The Sainsbury Wing: Introduction page 1 of 2

In April 1985 the Trustees of the National Gallery announced that they had received a generous gift from Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover and his brothers The Hon. Simon Sainsbury and Sir Timothy Sainsbury. They expressed their wish to give the nation a new building on the land adjacent to the National Gallery, known as the Hampton site. This position is important as it is not only seen in context with the main building designed by Wilkins, but also as part of Trafalgar Square, an international landmark.

The new building would help provide for the growing number of visitors to the Gallery, with improved facilities for lectures and temporary exhibitions as well as more top-lit galleries; a new shop and restaurant and a computer information room. A committee was formed to select an architect. Six practices from an international list were invited to submit their initial designs, from these the firm of Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown was selected as architects of the Sainsbury Wing.