Kengo Kuma, the architect behind Dundee’s V&A museum, has given the building his seal of approval as it nears completion. Picture: Kris Miller.

Designer says quality and attention to detail give him ‘great satisfaction’

The world-renowned architect of Dundee’s V&A museum has expressed his “great satisfaction” after seeing his nearly-complete creation for the first time.

Kengo Kuma visited the V&A to inspect its progress yesterday, commenting on how the building worked together with the River Tay to bring nature closer to the museum.

The exterior walls are now complete, with all the 2,500 cast stone panels hung on the imposing building’s complex walls, which curve both vertically and horizontally.

V&A Dundee will open next year, with the exact date still to be announced.

Mr Kuma said: “When I saw the building from the bridge in the morning, I was so impressed by its relationship with the River Tay.

“Some museums are just boxes – this isn’t just a box, it is linked to nature.

“As an architect, seeing a completed building can be stressful, as sometimes the quality isn’t satisfactory. But in this case the quality and the attention to detail has given me great satisfaction to see.

“I was especially impressed by the building’s entrance and the space below the building that people can walk through, which is very unique.”

The inspiration for the V&A’s design came from Scotland’s dramatic cliffs.

Mr Kuma said he was “truly in love with the Scottish landscape and nature”.

He added: “I really hope once finished this project will attract many people from the UK and around the world to the city and the museum.

“I hope as well that people from Dundee will use it as an everyday part of their city; that they will go there to enjoy the building with its surrounding public space and find a harmonious relationship between the museum, the riverside, the city and themselves.”

The V&A’s newly-installed panels were made in moulds, weigh up to two tonnes each and span up to four metres.

The size, shape and placement of the them varies around the building, creating changing patterns of shadows as the sun moves around the museum.

It is the first building in the UK designed by Mr Kuma, who is also part of the team designing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium.

Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee, said: “It was a real pleasure to have the architect of V&A Dundee, Kengo Kuma, with us to see the incredible progress that has been made in bringing his vision to life.

“Everyone working on the design and construction should be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.

“V&A Dundee has been out in communities across Scotland since 2014 with talks, workshops and exhibitions, meeting thousands of people and sharing our passion for the importance of design.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone when we open the museum next year.”