The chief executive of Dundee City Council has given a sneak peak of how the city’s V&A could look lit up at night time.
Local authority boss David Martin tweeted a photograph of the in-development design museum’s massive stone panels illuminated on the banks of the River Tay in the evening.
He said it was a “sneak preview” of “external lighting trials” which are taking place at the £80 million facility, which is due to open to the public next year.
A sneak preview of some external lighting trials at V&A Dundee! pic.twitter.com/MiuNzTCeyw
— DundeeCouncilCE (@DundeeCouncilCE) September 6, 2017
The V&A Museum of Design is the first British building to be designed by world-famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose vision was inspired by the cliffs of the dramatic north-east coast.
It comes as V&A Dundee confirmed work to remove the cofferdam in place around the building is now underway.
Removal of our 12.5k tonne temporary cofferdam has begun (and will take about 3 months)! Are you as excited as we are? ??♀️???? #vadundee pic.twitter.com/mC0nC42yob
— V&A Dundee (@VADundee) September 7, 2017
Once completed 2,466 stone panels will form the exterior of the V&A, each one weighing between 1.5 and 2.5 tonnes. They are being individually placed onto the structure.
The slabs have been made of stone, cement and mesh with the help of a 3D model, with the position of each one planned out in advance of construction itself.
Locals reacted positively to the photograph after it appeared online.
That lighting reflected in the Tay will be amazing
— Mervyn Rolfe (@MervRolfe) September 7, 2017
Looks fantastic
— Douglas Mair (@DouglasMair1) September 7, 2017