Photographer Credits –
©NAARO
©Erieta Attali
©Hufton+Crow
The design of V&A Dundee is intended to act as a connector between the river and the city, creating a frame through which the river can be seen from the city and vice versa. The building acts as a gate through which the city can once again access the world, in a way which reflects on Dundee’s successful history of trade.
The building envelope is created by methods of twisting, connecting and layering the city grid axis and the adjacent RRS Discovery ship axis, using a ring structure made of reconstituted stone and concrete to compliment the traditional construction materials used in Dundee and reflect the natural cliff structure of the coastline.
The building’s form creates dramatic spaces with an impressive main hall forming a public indoor plaza, and areas that overhang the external public plaza. The external envelope draws people to the waterfront and generates a new migration route along the riverside promenade. The interior space of the main hall is filled with a gentle light emanating from apertures cut through the layered stone to create an open yet intimate public space.
The ground floor, which splits into two parts connecting on the upper floor, comprises the building entrance hall, reception, café and shop on the public part of the building; administration and back-of-house facilities on its second part.
The main hall is a welcoming social space - a ‘living room for the city’ designed to encourage the public to interact with the building. It is a fully programmed space hosting a variety of design-led events, a vibrant place for everyone to enjoy.
The second floor is dedicated to exhibition galleries: the permanent Scottish Design Galleries and the 1,100 sqm exhibition gallery which can also be subdivided into two galleries.
Project Data
Site area (approx.) 11,600 m2
Total floor area 8,445 m2
Budget: £80.11 Million
Client: Dundee City Council
Project Manager: Turner & Townsend
Main Contractor: BAM Construct UK
Design Team Credits
Lead Architect: KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES
Partners in charge: Kengo Kuma, Yuki Ikeguchi, Teppei Fujiwara
Project Architect: Maurizio Mucciola
Delivery Architect: PiM.studio Architects
Executive Architect: James F Stephen Architects
Structural/Maritime and Civil Engineer: Arup
Mechanical, Electrical, Fire and Acoustic Engineer: Arup
Façade Engineering: Arup
Lighting: Arup
Landscape Architect: Optimised Environments (OPEN)
Quantity Surveyor: CBA
Wayfinding & Signage: Cartlidge Levene
Principal Designer: KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES - PiM.studio Architects
Principal Designer Adviser: C-MIST
DDA Consultants: C-MIST - James F Stephen Architects
Water Feature Specialist: Fountains Direct
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