Whaam!

The Design Museum, London

With my upcoming visiting to London next week looming, I have been trying to get a list together of places to visit while I'm down there. We have a few extra days to explore as we are down for 5 days, with Eco Build only occupying 3 of them.

For me, The Tate Modern is a must. I've never had the time to visit before - as the only other time I've ever been to London was for the same excursion last year, to which time was an issue. I've been looking through their extensive list of permanent pieces, along with the current exhibitions, and have come to the conclusion I may need to dedicate a whole morning or afternoon for The Tate Modern. They have 27 pages listing all their works by Andy Warhol, and house Roy Lichtenstein's Whaam! - something I am desperate to see as it's over 4m long! I remember thinking that some pieces that you have longed to see can be a let down in scale, a particular example of this was Dali's paintings I seen while visiting New York's MoMA. Some of them were post card sized - something you would never assume from images printed in books.

Ai WeiWei's Sunflower Seeds Exhibiton

Ai Weiwei's current installation piece entitled "Sunflower Seeds" is something I want to get the chance to see - as the scale of it seems like something that would be very powerful to see, and have more of an impact than mere images.

Next on my list of places to visit is The Design Museum. I'm hoping to find some kind of inspiration for my current project there, as things have taken a dip in terms of motivation. I always do this - storm into a project like a hurricane and then the calm in the middle comes, and then it's a mad dash to the finish line, but hey - it works.

The V&A is another place I'd like to visit, but I'm not sure if I will gave time to spare. I guess I can use it as an excuse to visit again during the summer - as I do need to spend some time taking in the culture from the comfort of some of Camden's finest bars.

Living in Dundee and coming from Edinburgh means I've never had a real sense of travelling times within a city - so I always assume it to be "no bother" to "pop across town" - although in reality, we could be talking about an hour or more. I suppose I will just have to see how much I can squeeze in - although I'm not in any way fussed to see BigBen or The London Eye. Actually, I'd be quite proud if I never see them, in a kind of anti-tourist type way.

V&A: Dundee Welcomes You, Kengo Kuma!

Kengo Kuma's winning design

I would just like to post a short recap on the V&A: Dundee proposal design competition. Today, it was announced that Kengo Kuma & Associates had won the opportunity to build their entry, which is scheduled for completion in 2014, costing an approximate £47million. I think this is a fantastic design as it pushes Dundee's boundaries in ways never before seen in the city, with of course the physical aspect also being pushed quite literally, out into the River Tay. This concept, as Lesley Knox, Chair of the V&A proposal jury said "[Kengo Kuma] demonstrates a clear understanding of the city, offers a new experience of the river, and will be as exciting internally as it will be externally"

She went on, "This has the potential to be one of Europe's most exciting buildings." 

This is a fantastic opportunity for Dundee to pull in a much needed tourist audience, not to mention create many jobs in the area. 

Kengo Kuma responded on hearing the news "We are enthusiastic about the amazing site, the city and environment - it is our intention to find a balanced approach to nature and the city life of Dundee. We wish to bring our best efforts forward, with vigour and passion."

Congratulations to Kengo Kuma & Associates - I look forward to seeing and documenting the build, it's about time we had some innovative architecture in this town!

V&A: This is Dundee. Dundee: Meet Some Culture

Above is the entry from REX, based in NYC - kind of 

puts the Tesco that will be opposite to shame really

Wow. Dundee isn't exactly the UK's hotspot for high end architecture, however it has landed itself potentionally a huge money maker for the tourist industry, not to mention the arts; the brand new V&A Exhibition Centre, which is set to be built on Dundee's waterfront. 

The exhibition which is currently exhibiting the architectural designs that have been put forward by several competators from around the globe is currently being shown in Abertay Univeristies Library, from 29 Sept 2010 - 4 Nov 2010. Votes are being cast as to which of the designs wins the build, which has been narrowed down from over 120 entrants to the final 6. One of these is Edinburgh's Sutherland Hussey. The other architects that have been shortlisted are: Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Kengo Kuma, REX, Snøhetta with Gareth Hoskins Architects and Steven Holl Architects. For images of the showcased designs, see the final 6. You can also visit the University of Abertay Dundee's site, regarding the shortlisted architects, which provides a little insight into who is on the panel of judges responsible for the remaining 6.

The deisgns which have caused a stir in particular are REX and Snøhetta's entries, but I guess we will have to wait until the winner is announced to know for sure. My hopes are on REX, which is probably quite clear by now! 

Thankfully the train station in Dundee was not
a shortlisted design for the £47 million build.
At least tax dodgers could say it's in the name of 
design if it were.