After a slight redesign scaled the building’s stone facade back from the waters edge to reduce construction costs, Kengo Kuma & Associates has been granted planning permission from the city council’s development management committee to construct the V&A at Dundee. The “world-class,” competition-winning proposal will be the first V&A museum constructed outside of London, serving as an international center of design for all of Scotland.
Work has already begun on the temporary infilling of Dundee’s Craig Harbour to create a platform for part of the £45 million building and its new riverfront promenade that offers views of the Tay River.
Construction is likely to start next summer.
When complete, towards the end of 2015, visitors will enjoy an ever-changing schedule of concerts, art workshops, installations, summer pavilions, large-scale exhibitions and art pieces in and around the museum. Programs will included an expansive, wooden public plaza; a ground-floor, double-height “public hall” with large performance-like staircase; a variety of large exhibition galleries; a design center and practitioner hall used by in-house designers; a museum shop; as well as a cafe and restaurant with stunning waterfront views.
Philip Long, director of V&A at Dundee, said:
"Kengo Kuma's fabulous design will give Dundee and Scotland a wonderful space to enjoy outstanding international exhibitions, and to learn about and get involved with Scotland's remarkable history of design creativity. [...] I believe it will attract visitors from across the world."
Compare these updated renderings with the project's original design here.
Reference: BBC News
