Home / Arts and Entertainment / Courtauld Unveils £82m Somerset House Makeover
Courtauld Unveils £82m Somerset House Makeover
27 Nov, 2025
Summary
- £82m redevelopment will unify teaching spaces with art gallery.
- Project aims to secure the institution's legacy for the next century.
- Research reveals a 37% drop in UK schools offering art history A-level.
The Courtauld Institute of Art is embarking on an ambitious £82m redevelopment at its Grade-I listed home in London's Somerset House. This significant project, led by Stirling Prize-winning architects Witherford Watson Mann, will unify the institute's academic spaces with its renowned public gallery, a move described as a "once-in-a-generation transformation."
The four-year renovation aims to create a flexible, state-of-the-art campus, consolidating teaching and research facilities currently in King's Cross with the gallery. This integration is intended to secure the Courtauld's legacy for the next century, building on the success of its 2021 gallery refurbishment.
This initiative coincides with concerning research indicating a 37% decrease in UK schools offering art history A-level over the past decade. The Courtauld plans to address this trend by supporting schools interested in teaching the subject, a step towards revitalizing art history education.
