When I was thinking of traveling to Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow were at the top of my list. But when I heard of the opening of a new V&A museum in Dundee, designed by Kengo Kuma really solidified my decision to go there.
It’s quite a distance from Edinburgh, a couple of hours at least. On your way to Dundee you can see rolling hills and the occasional herd of sheep passing you by. The most majestic part of the journey is traveling across the river and seeing this jagged little site at the edge of the water.
The site faces the River Tay where the architecture creates a new integrated way to achieve harmony with the environment. The façade is made up of multiple horizontal layers of precast concrete as a way to express the beautiful cliffs of Scotland through this architecture gesture.
When you enter the museum, the horizontality of the exterior is carried into the interior with wooden planks. The texture of the space, although expansive, is warm and inviting. On the ground floor, you can find a very busy cafe and a typical museum shop with their own branded material. A central staircase wraps itself around the edge of the perimeter allowing you to fully experience the grandness of the space and materials.
The major exhibit and temporary gallery space are all located on the upper floor. Where artwork from the V&A collection, contemporary Scottish art and product design are on display. The subtle details of benches blending into the walls and spaces to enjoy the water views really make this museum a destination as the next cultural centre of Scotland.
Richelle Sibolboro 