London's Royal Academy announces plans to close Collection Gallery until 2027

"The Royal Academy of Arts's (RA) Collection Gallery in London's Burlington Gardens is to close until 2027 as part of a redevelopment by David Chipperfield Architects (DCA), the academy announced yesterday. The current Collection Gallery will close to the public from 10 October, with the whole of 6 Burlington Gardens set to close from 27 October. The academy intends to continue to provide access to its collection during this time, although details of this are yet to be released."

"Burlington House, the home of the Royal Academy, will remain open as usual. Once closed, the gallery will be expanded to include a 12-metre-high space with a mezzanine on the first floor, allowing the academy to display larger works from its collection. The renovation will be a modern interpretation of its original design by Sir James Pennethorne, which had a double-height examination hall in the west wing of the building when it was opened in 1870."

""David Chipperfield Architects are a world-class architectural practice that created a superb and much-loved building for my previous employers, The Hepworth Wakefield," he says. "We are delighted to be working with them again at the RA on this inspiring project that will be appreciated for generations to come. It will make art and architecture even more accessible for our audiences and will allow them to further appreciate the inspirational work of the Royal Academicians both past and present.""

The Royal Academy of Arts' Collection Gallery at 6 Burlington Gardens will close from 10 October (whole building from 27 October) and remain closed until 2027 for a redevelopment by David Chipperfield Architects. The academy will continue to provide access to its collection during the works, while Burlington House will remain open. The renovation will create a 12-metre-high space with a first-floor mezzanine to allow display of larger works, drawing on Sir James Pennethorne's original 1870 double-height examination hall. David Chipperfield's practice will lead the project, aiming to enhance accessibility and appreciation of Royal Academicians' work.

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