Expensive blot on the landscape

I HAVE watched with interest as the new V&A museum has gradually taken shape on the Waterfront over the last couple of years.

Having always been rather dubious about the design merits of the £80 million building, nothing I have seen during the construction phase has changed my mind. The dark, forboding structure has been lightened somewhat by the addition in recent months of the external stone panels — which are meant to give the appearance of a Scottish cliff face, so I am led to believe.

Being kind, it is certainly an unusual looking building, and hopefully the interior will justify the hype.

In this part of the world it may be akin to heresy to say this, but to me I’m afraid it’s a blot on the landscape — albeit a very expensive one.

Traditionalist.