The National Art Gallery is envisaged as a sculptural and monumental landmark. The sculpted block hovering in the air and the sharp edges silhouetted against the sky will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression to patrons of the gallery.

The basic building form is derived from the vernacular roof design to reflect the Malaysian national identity. It is further stylized into a truncated block which is stretched along Jalan Temerloh. An A-shaped roof straddles the block in order to break the monotony of a monolithic mass and introduces a light-filled atrium space internally.

Gallery spaces flanking the circular ramp serve as exhibition areas for a more intimate and contemplative viewing. The rooms are partitioned to accommodate diverse needs of the collection.