The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

V&A Dundee Opens To The World

18 September 2018
 

The stunning V&A Dundee opened its doors for the first time to the public on Saturday 15 September. In the week leading up to the opening, its beautiful, light-filled interiors designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma were revealed for the first time.

V&A Dundee’s construction and fit-out took three and a half years to complete and it stands at the centre of the £1 billion transformation of the Dundee waterfront, once part of the city’s docklands.

With its complex geometry, inspired by the dramatic cliffs along the north-east coast of Scotland, it stretches out into the River Tay – a new landmark connecting the city with its historic waterfront, and a new major cultural development for Scotland and the UK.

At the heart of the museum the Scottish Design Galleries feature 300 exhibits drawn from the V&A’s collections of Scottish design, as well as from museums and private collections across Scotland and the world.

At the centre of these galleries stands the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Oak Room meticulously restored, conserved and reconstructed through a partnership between V&A Dundee, Glasgow Museums and Dundee City Council. It had been lost to view for nearly 50 years.

Philip Long, Director of V&A Dundee, said: “The opening of V&A Dundee is a historic occasion for Dundee, for the V&A, and for the very many people who played a vital part and supported its realisation. This is a very proud moment for all involved.

“The museum’s light-filled wooden interior and impressive spaces inside have been designed to provide a warm welcome to visitors, described by architect Kengo Kuma as a ‘living room for the city’.”

Kengo Kuma, architect of V&A Dundee, said: “The big idea for V&A Dundee was bringing together nature and architecture, to create a new living room for the city. I was inspired by the cliffs of north-eastern Scotland – it’s as if the earth and water had a long conversation and finally created this stunning shape."

The delivery of V&A Dundee has been overseen by the founding partnership of the V&A, Dundee City Council, the University of Dundee, Abertay University and Scottish Enterprise. The £80.11 million project was funded by the Scottish Government, The National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Creative Scotland, Dundee City Council, the UK Government, Scottish Enterprise, University of Dundee, Abertay University and a successful private fundraising campaign.


Economic boost

Dundee City Council Leader, Councillor John Alexander said: “We are predicting an economic boost in the city, estimated in the region of £11.6 million a year and the creation of 361 extra jobs across Scotland, 249 of which will be in Dundee. We also anticipate a significant number of other indirect benefits in terms of jobs and investment from new enterprise, business and increasing footfall in the city."

 

Picture: The Kengo Kuma designed V&A Dundee opened for the first time on Saturday 15 September.

Article written by Robin Snow | Published 18 September 2018

Share


Related Articles

Mercury Rising, Straw Dogs, Hot Fuzz, Top Guns, The Crown & Vikings

We've got an FM Digest so good you'd almost want to make a movie out of it. Mercury have taken the Almac contract; Elior are eliminating plastic straws; Tenon are...

 Read Full Article
Skanska Wins Contract for 20 Ropemaker Street

Skanska has won a £240 million contract to construct 20 Ropemaker Street in Central London for Great Elm Assets Limited, in association with Old Park Lane...

 Read Full Article
X Marks The Spot Of The Tallest Tower In Town

The City of London Corporation has approved 1 Undershaft - AKA The Trellis - which will be the second tallest building in the Capital after The Shard and thus the second...

 Read Full Article
Airline Company Guilty For Unsafe Operation of Passenger Lift

Flybe, the airline company, was sentenced on 4 February 2020 for the unsafe operation of a passenger lift. Meanwhile, a number of other firms have found themselves...

 Read Full Article
A Top Ten Guide To Making Your Venue More Accessible

Eight venues have received awards from the disabled access charity Euan’s Guide for their work welcoming disabled visitors – and this prompted ThisWeekinFM to...

 Read Full Article
Tackling The People Challenge Through Technology

Report - CBRE and ThisWeekinFM recently lead a delegation of experts to provide a briefing on technology in workplace and real estate strategy. The breakfast briefing...

 Read Full Article
Net Zero Rush-Through Criticised By Lords, Forum Claims

The Global Warming Policy Forum has claimed the House of Lords has rebuked the Government for rushing through a commitment to a Net Zero economy. The Forum refutes the...

 Read Full Article
Holland Match - It's All Gone Gooee Over There

ProptTech history has been made with global M&E firm Croonwolter&dros agreeing to connect the 5,000 commercial buildings it runs in the Netherlands  to the...

 Read Full Article
'IRA' Claim Parcel Bomb Responsibility In Correctly Coded Call

A claim has allegedly been made on behalf of the ‘IRA’ for the parcel bombs that were delivered to premises in the UK - using a recognised codeword. A call...

 Read Full Article
Emcor UK Takes Insurance On TFM Contract

Emcor UK, has been awarded a contract with multinational insurance company RSA Insurance Group which is being described as a total facilities management contract. It will...

 Read Full Article