Transformation of the National Portrait Gallery reorients and restores its Grade I-listed fabric, enhancing access, increasing public space and creating a more inclusive visitor experience.

Working as collaborating architects throughout all RIBA stages alongside Jamie Fobert Architects, Purcell was instrumental in the most significant transformation of the National Portrait Gallery since it opened in 1896.
Purcell led on all heritage interventions to the Grade I-listed building to interpret a strategy of reorientation, restoration and renewal that places the public at the heart of the gallery experience.

NPG Director, Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, commissioned the project under his ‘Inspiring People’ initiative. Supported by a major National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, the transformation has increased public space by 18%, improved accessibility and rethought the ethos of the entire collection, while reinstating the architectural integrity of Ewan Christian’s building.

Throughout the project, Purcell’s approach was guided by Christian’s architectural language and intent. Working closely with the gallery’s curators, visitor teams and design partners, we ensured each intervention respected the building while enhancing future use.

Every design move – whether visible or behind the scenes – was about making the building feel intuitive, inclusive and socially valid. When reconfiguring the collection display, we considered how the gallery engaged with the public both physically and intellectually.

The client wanted the gallery to be more welcoming, more accessible, and to draw in a more diverse range of visitors, making it relevant for future generations. Purcell and Jamie Fobert Architects have jointly led a confident, cohesive rebranding of a national institution that celebrates its past while meeting the needs of a 21st-century society.