News from across the pond: Washington's Hirshhorn Museum is about to get a stunning new makeover from New York architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

It's set to be quite a dramatic intervention; the proposed addition consists of an inflatable structure in the form of a bubble that oozes out of the doughnut - shaped museum’s top and side allowing it to expand on a seasonal basis.

The design is still in the conceptual stage, but so far, the firm have developed a scheme where the largest 'bubble' will rise 145 feet through the building’s top enclosing a four-storey courtyard below. Visible from all sides of the museum and at points along Washington’s historic National Mall, it will house an auditorium with up to 1,000 seats for new media offerings.

Once inside, visitors will be able to view people in the galleries above through transparent areas provided in the fabric structure. The smaller bubble, positioned at the side, will house a public lounge with a café overlooking the mall.

The project, which the museum hopes to have ready by May 2011, has an estimated price tag of $5 million.

We'd like to hear what you think; clever concept or a bit of a let down?