V&A contest had global reach

Dundee held a similar contest to find a designer for the V&A.

Renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma was revealed as the winner following a 10-month search in 2010.

His firm was one of six entrants which were shortlisted to develop the landmark building.

Kuma’s previous work includes the spectacular Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo and the Besançon Art Centre in France.

V&A Dundee chairwoman Lesley Knox, who led the judging panel, said at the time that they received several high-quality designs which attracted huge public interest.

She said Kuma’s proposal “demonstrates a clear understanding of the city, offers a new experience of the river and will be as exciting internally as it will be externally”.

She added: “This has the potential to be one of Europe’s most exciting buildings.”

The competition process – which ran from January to November – involved extensive assessment of each design, as well as interviews with the architects and their teams.

The public was also given its say with all the proposals displayed in an exhibition and put online.

Judges sifted through more than 13,000 responses.

This has the potential to be one of Europe’s most exciting buildings. LESLEY KNOX