Sainsbury Wing contractors find 1990 letter from donor
During renovations at the Sainsbury Wing of London's National Gallery, a letter from donor John Sainsbury criticized non-structural columns. The £85 million upgrade includes their removal, reopening in May 2025.
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During renovation work at the Sainsbury Wing of London's National Gallery, contractors discovered a letter from John Sainsbury, a key donor, dated July 26, 1990. The letter, which was hidden in a false column, expressed Sainsbury's disapproval of the architect Robert Venturi's design choice to include two non-structural columns in the foyer. Sainsbury believed these columns were a significant mistake and anticipated that their presence would be regrettable. He expressed delight at the prospect of their removal, which was realized during the recent renovations aimed at upgrading the gallery. The Sainsbury Wing, funded by John and his brothers, opened in 1991 and is currently undergoing an £85 million upgrade to enhance visitor experience. The project includes the demolition of the criticized columns, which has faced some opposition from preservationists. The Sainsbury family remains the largest financial contributor to the renovation, with significant donations from family trusts. The refurbished Sainsbury Wing is expected to reopen in May 2025.
- A letter from John Sainsbury, found during renovations, criticized the inclusion of false columns in the Sainsbury Wing.
- The Sainsbury Wing is undergoing an £85 million upgrade, including the removal of the controversial columns.
- The Sainsbury family is the largest financial contributor to the renovation project.
- The refurbished wing is set to reopen in May 2025, allowing visitors to assess the architectural changes.
- The project has faced criticism from preservationists regarding the demolition of the columns.
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- Several commenters draw parallels between the situation and historical architectural debates, such as Brunelleschi's work.
- There is a recurring theme of British passive aggression, with many finding humor in the letter's tone.
- Some comments highlight the serendipity of discovering the letter during renovations, suggesting a connection to past generations.
- References to the architectural legacy and public opinion, including King Charles' past criticisms, are noted.
- Commenters express amusement at the situation, with some calling it quintessentially British.
18 commentsWhen doing a bathroom repair I needed a few additional tiles that would be impossible to find (was an old house). Guess what I found when we busted open the wall… the leftover tiles from when the house was built like 70 years prior! I could almost feel some tile layer from generations prior giving me a little smile and pat on the back.
// TODO: evil hack!! refactor thishere's a recent story about the work to add this entry
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/nov/06/nationa...
The Venturi columns seems to lack entasis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entasis
Even though they had likely possessed a fax machine for quite some time already.
I always leave stuff for future remodelers or archeologists when I do remodeling or building.
Mostly coins, I throw a few in the concrete mix or inside walls for future generations to discover.
It’s always a treat to find long forgotten artifacts when remodeling old houses.
A little treat for people working on something I built 40 or 400 years in the future.
EDIT: Someone downvoted me, so I should say I grew up in England until I was 14 so I'm allowed to say this! Downvoting itself is a form of passive aggression
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