Landmark hailed for its ‘wow’ factor

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has hailed Dundee’s “stunning” new V&A museum after welcoming the first members of the public to be given access to the £80 million attraction.

Mr Swinney greeted community groups and competition winners as he enthused about the impact the museum was having on the city’s reputation and predicted it would “define the purpose of Dundee for the future”.

The Perthshire North MSP said: “It’s an absolutely stunning design and development for Dundee and I’m thrilled with the impact it’s having on the city, its reputation around the world, and I think it gives Dundee every ground for optimism and confidence for the future.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that the V&A Dundee was “simply stunning”, adding: “I arrived this afternoon with high expectations and they were wildly exceeded. Truly world class.

“My congratulations to everyone, from architect Kengo Kuma onwards, who worked so hard to make this vision a reality.”

Bobby Heron, 58, from the charity Advocating Together, said his first impression was the sheer scale of the museum.

He said: “I think it’s lovely. It’s so big – it looks like a giant boat from the outside but it’s like Dr Who’s Tardis inside. Your first impression walking in is just ‘wow’.”

Ex-first minister Jack McConnell has admitted he doubted the ambitions for the V&A in Dundee could be realised, despite being the first politician to back the plans.

Now Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, he said: “I think the architect has done an incredible job and the way in which its opening this week has provided an opportunity to promote itself internationally signals how those with the original ambition for the V&A were right.”