The Japanese architect behind the V&A at Dundee has said changing the design of the museum to save money would be regretted in the future.
Speaking exclusively to The Courier a week after it emerged the budget for the V&A had increased from £45 million to over £80 million, Kengo Kuma said he is confident the building will still fulfil its purpose and help transform Dundee.
He said: “This building is very important to me and very important for Dundee and for Scotland. We are confident it will be a great success, and I am fully in support of the client decision to go ahead as planned.”
Since news of the increase in cost of the building emerged, several rival architects who competed for the chance to design the building have said Mr Kuma’s building – one of six shortlisted contenders – could never have been built for the original price tag of £45 million.
However, Mr Kuma said there were a number of factors behind the rise in costs that could not have been foreseen when his design was chosen in 2010.
For our full exclusive interview, see Saturday’s Courier.
