Royal Academy Collection Gallery to Close Until 2027 While Gallery Expands

David Chipperfield Architects will transform Burlington Gardens venue, creating 12-meter-high gallery opening in 2027

The Royal Academy of Arts has unveiled plans for a major expansion of its Collection Gallery in Burlington Gardens, creating a dramatic new double-height exhibition space that will significantly increase public access to the institution’s extensive art collection.

The project, designed by renowned British practice David Chipperfield Architects, will transform the current gallery into a 12-meter-high space featuring a timber mezzanine on the first floor. The design represents a modern interpretation of the building’s original 1870 configuration by Sir James Pennethorne, which featured a double-height examination hall before later subdivisions altered the interior proportions.

The expanded gallery will allow the RA to display larger works from its collection and provide visitors with an enhanced free offering when it opens in 2027. The project has been funded by an anonymous donor and represents the third and final phase of the academy’s ambitious Masterplan programme, which began in 2008.

Temporary Closure for Transformation

The current Collection Gallery will close to the public from 10 October 2025, with the entire 6 Burlington Gardens building shutting from 27 October. The RA has indicated it will continue providing access to its collection during the closure period, though specific details have yet to be announced. Burlington House, the main Royal Academy building on Piccadilly, will remain open as usual.

The renovation follows two previous phases of the Masterplan: the 2018 restoration of Burlington Gardens’ historic proportions and the 2024 completion of the Royal Academy Schools renovation.

New Chapter for Keeper’s House

The Collection Gallery announcement comes as the Royal Academy launches another significant culinary initiative this November. The Keeper’s House, the academy’s dedicated space for Friends, Patrons, and Members, will be transformed into a new dining destination under acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro.

Operating as “The Keeper’s House by José Pizarro,” the refreshed venue will bring the chef’s signature Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to several reimagined spaces across three floors. The Shenkman Bar and Dining Room (formerly the Green Room) will become a full restaurant for leisurely dining, while the Reading Room will be available for private events. The Sir Hugh Casson Room will feature some of Pizarro’s bestsellers alongside existing offerings, and the Academicians’ Room will continue serving small plates infused with his distinctive style.

Pizarro, who has been a favourite at the RA for over five years, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “Art makes you feel alive, and good food does too. They both touch the heart and fill you with joy. Bringing them together feels so special to me; it’s pure happiness and one of the proudest moments of my life.”

The launch coincides with enhanced membership benefits for Friends of the RA, including all-day access to the Shenkman Bar and Keeper’s Garden with extended evening hours until 9pm Wednesday through Saturday.

The existing Poster Bar by José and José Pizarro at the RA in Burlington Gardens will close in late October.

World-Class Architecture for a World-Class Collection

Simon Wallis, secretary and chief executive of the RA, praised the choice of David Chipperfield Architects for the Collection Gallery project, noting the practice’s exceptional track record in museum design, including The Hepworth Wakefield, the Museum of Modern Literature in Germany, and Museo Jumex in Mexico City.

“David Chipperfield Architects are a world-class architectural practice,” Wallis said. “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 6 Burlington Gardens building has a rich institutional history, originally constructed for the University of London before housing the Civil Service Commission (1902), the British Academy (1928), and the British Museum’s Museum of Mankind (1970). The Royal Academy acquired the Grade II* listed building in 2001.

The expanded Collection Gallery will re-establish the building’s original architectural balance, creating a striking counterpoint to the East Wing’s reinstated lecture theatre and providing visitors with a dramatically enhanced space to experience the RA’s treasured collection.