We take a first look at the V&A Dundee by Kengo Kuma

Gearing up for its public opening on the 15th September, V&A Dundee is Kengo Kuma's first UK building.

(Image credit: Rapid Visual Media)

published 15 August 2018

The highly sculptural V&A Museum of Design Dundee is Japanese architect Kengo Kuma’s first UK building – as well as Scotland’s very first dedicated design museum. The new structure is now complete and gearing up to throw open its doors to the public on 15 September.

North Eastern Scotland’s ragged cliffs inspired the complex’s distinct shapes, which feature exterior cladding of layered horizontal cast-stone panels – there are some 2,500 sheets involved. At the same time, the concrete structure appears light, bearing an abstract resemblance to the prow of a ship, moored on the riverbank; it is no wonder the project was awarded Best Facade at the 2018 Wallpaper* Design Awards.

Kuma wanted the building to welcome visitors with a strong design gesture. Located on the city’s waterfront, overlooking the River Tay, the new, three-storey high structure will also include a café, restaurant and learning facilities. The museum's programme, which will be freely open to all, will include the best of Scottish design from all periods displayed via permanent and temporary shows, and a variety of education programmes.

V&A Dundee will welcome the public through its doors for the very first time with a two-day long festival – the last month countdown has now began. Legendary Scottish band Primal Scream will appear in a specially commissioned new collaboration with Turner Prize-winning Scottish artist Jim Lambie. Light, sound and architecture will come together to celebrate the launch of Kuma's striking contribution to Dundee.

Kengo Kuma's V&A Dundee revealed — The opening will mark the V&A's first new building outside London.

Kengo Kuma's V&A Dundee completes — The striking facade is made of cast stone panels

Kengo Kuma's V&A Dundee gears up for opening — V&A Dundee sits on the city’s waterfront, overlooking the River Tay

V&A Dundee by Kengo Kuma — A two-day festival with workshops and performances will celebrate the museum's launch.

INFORMATION

For more information visit the website (opens in new tab) of Kengo Kuma & Associates

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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).