Fresh from the success of the 200th anniversary rehang and new Trafalgar Square entrance, the National Gallery (NG) in London, WC2, last week bullishly announced the next stage in its long-planned redevelopment strategy .

In the 1990s, the NG acquired St Vincent House — an office and hotel block built in 1967–70 by Charles Pike and Partners — immediately to the rear of the Sainsbury Wing. The intention was to secure a potential site for a future extension that could be directly linked to the main building.

What has now brought the project to life is the success of the NG in securing private funding of £375 million towards the estimated £400 million total cost. This includes two donations of £150 million respectively from Crankstart, the charitable foundation of Sir Michael Moritz and h

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