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In pictures: How V&A Dundee took shape

News imagePhil Turner CliffsPhil Turner
Phil Turner's photograph provided the original inspiration for the museum's design

Dundee's V&A museum is celebrating its fifth birthday.

The tourist attraction is marking the occasion with a new exhibition charting the architecture and construction of the £80m building.

The exhibition includes images of the inspiration for the building's design and a history of the complex task of bringing Kengo Kuma's vision to life.

News imageKengo Kuma and Associates V&A sketchKengo Kuma and Associates
Kengo Kuma's design for the building began with a sketch
News imageKengo Kuma and Associates V&A modelKengo Kuma and Associates
This model was exhibited with other shortlisted designs in 2010 before being chosen by a jury panel. Originally, the whole museum was positioned on the river, which later proved infeasible. Kuma kept the connection to the river by designing surrounding water pools.
News imageMaurizio Mucciola V&A Dundee test modelMaurizio Mucciola
This test model shows the building's distinctive archway
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A constructionRoss Fraser McLean
By March 2016 work had begun on the building's core, main hall and exterior walls
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A constructionRoss Fraser McLean
One of the V&A's core buildings viewed from the top of the other, looking down into the main hall
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A constructionRoss Fraser McLean
By December 2016 Formwork and falsework surround the building, supporting it until the roof steelwork was completed
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A constructionRoss Fraser McLean
The museum's exterior walls are made from poured concrete, and 21 walls were built using 1,277 separate panels. Each one is a different shape.
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A constructionRoss Fraser McLean
The public entranceway towards the stairway and main hall entrance, before the addition of timber planks to the walls is shown here from December 2016
News imageRossFraserMcLean V&A constructionRossFraserMcLean
The building during construction in May 2017
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A DundeeRoss Fraser McLean
By December 2017, people could admire the building from the outside, but it would be another 10 months before they could see inside
News imageHufton Crow V&A DundeeHufton Crow
News imageAlan Richardson KengoAlan Richardson
In February 2018, Kengo Kuma visited the construction site to see the completed building for the first time
News imageRoss Fraser McLean V&A DundeeRoss Fraser McLean
The building was illuminated on 14 September 2015 ahead of its opening the following day
News imageFrame Focus Capture Photography V&A DundeeFrame Focus Capture Photography
Hundreds of "birthday wishes" were placed on the water pools outside V&A Dundee to celebrate its fifth birthday

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