Willmott Dixon Interiors is furthering its track-record for transforming the inside of iconic London buildings with its appointment by the National Gallery to update key areas of the museum’s interior.

The project will see Willmott Dixon’s fit-out specialist enhance facilities at the world-famous gallery on Trafalgar Square that enables over 5.5 million visitors each year to see for free the work of artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Constable, Ingres, Monet and Van Gogh.

Working with the architect Purcell, it involves the complete refurbishment of Room 32, the largest within the National Gallery, as well as refurbishing parts of the existing basement and ground floor areas. When completed in summer 2020, the new space will deliver a modern, flexible working office environment for Gallery staff, with new meeting rooms and breakout areas, as well as changing the use of several back-of-house rooms.

Interiors' work in London

It heralds an exciting new era for the National Gallery team at the historic Grade I listed building designed by William Wilkins in the 1830s. Willmott Dixon Interiors’ project will be delivered in the extended part of the Gallery designed by Edmund M Barry that was completed in 1876.

The company is already working nearby to deliver the high-end Page Hotel by converting 7-8 Martins Place, a five-storey office block, into a 136-room hotel complete with a fifth floor restaurant.

It is the latest major landmark in London that Willmott Dixon Interiors has been appointed to transform and is also the second major cultural attraction in three years.

In 2016, Willmott Dixon Interiors completed work to refurbish the Grade 2 listed vacant Commonwealth Institute building and create a thriving new home for the Design Museum, adding new galleries, learning spaces, library and office areas across 10,000m² of space.

The company also recently completed new hospitality facilities at Twickenham’s East Stand, which saw the company deliver over 11,000m² of new space in time for the 2018 autumn international season. The scope over five levels included space receptions, parties and dining, and a new rooftop rose garden which has a built-in stage for live music performances.

Willmott Dixon Interiors managing director Graham Shaw:

”We’ll be able to use our track-record of transforming historic buildings, such as the Commonwealth Institute, for the benefit of the National Gallery. Our team are really looking forward to enhancing another London landmark so that it can be enjoyed by millions of people over the coming years.”

“This also further underlines the scope and complexity of work we deliver, illustrated by the Design Museum and Twickenham Stadium, which has seen us deliver over 200,000m² of new interior space in London over the last five years. We’re proud to be helping shape the capital’s future.”