Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, the angular form of V&A Dundee immediately demands attention. KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES’ concrete-faced design draws inspiration from the dramatic cliffs of East Scotland and sets the tone for the visitor experience. Inside, carefully curated permanent galleries explore the past and future of Scottish design, while world class exhibitions will explore a wide range of subjects.
The building also celebrates the best in energy efficient design, utilising air source heat pumps in combination with geothermal energy from thirty, 200-metre deep bore holes to heat and cool the building. To maximise the fabric performance of the external building envelope, a number of Kingspan Insulation products were installed on the floor and roof of the building.
The museum’s expansive flat roof was not only a potentially significant source of heat loss, but also required careful drainage management to prevent long-term maintenance issues.