Eight architecture studios have reached the final stage of the international competition to create a new exhibition hall for the Museo del Prado in Madrid; Spain’s national art museum.

The new gallery, which will showcase artworks that explore Spanish history, will be housed in the Hall of Realms. The building once formed part of the Royal Buen Retiro Palace and was formerly used as an Army Museum, before it was acquired by Museo del Prado last year.

The shortlisted teams to remodel the building each include a Spanish studio, many of whom have partnered with international firms. Foster + Partners, OMA and David Chipperfield Architects are among the big names in contention. All have previously created new facilities for historic museum buildings.

The eight teams – who were selected ahead of 39 rival entries – are now invited to participate in the competition’s second phase. They will develop their final proposals by 30 October 2016, and a jury will then select the winning design before the end of the year.

The full list of shortlisted teams is as follows:

• Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos

• Nieto Sobejano Architects

• UTE B720 - David Chipperfield Architects Architecture

• Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) Stedebouw BV

• UTE Souto Moura Arquitectos - Juan Miguel Hernández León - Riano Carlos Lozano

• UTE Foster + Partners- Rubio Architecture

• UTE Garces de Seta Bonet Arquitectes - Pedro Feducci Canosa

• Tang and UTE Gluckman Architects

The Museo del Prado possesses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 19th century.