REX organized the art museum’s programs based on a layer cake concept, with each floor providing a different purpose. The bottom layer serves as the aarshalling area, the second is the civic layer for the city of Dundee, the third is the creative zone and provides offices for museum staff and museum facilities and finally the top layer is the gallery and exhibition space. The shape of the museum was determined by the size needed for each program area. As such the galleries and exhibition space need the most room, so they were placed on top and expanded.
The inverted pyramid shape provides a number of benefits to the museum in terms of sustainability. As the galleries and exhibition space are on the top floor they have the best access to natural daylighting streaming in from the skylights. During the summer, the inverted shape allows the building to self-shade, thus reducing cooling loads, while in the winter the low sun angle can still enter the sides of the building. The expanded horizontal rooftop also provides more space for rainwater and solar collection. Services, toilets, lifts, and HVAC systems are all centralized in the core of the building increasing efficiency and the small footprint allows for a larger public plaza space on the pier.
REX’s “Bluebell” concept will sit proudly on the pier out over the River Tay in the center of the city and with its mirrored facade the building will reflect its surroundings like a shining jewel. Compared to the other design concepts proposed by such leading firms likeSnøhetta and Steven Holl, REX’s design is by far the most exciting and compelling.
Via Bustler
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One of the six finalist design proposals for the Victoria & Albert Museum in Dundee, Scotland is a mirrored inverted pyramid by New York-based REX. Inspired by the Scottish Bluebell, REX’s design calls for a flower-shaped building that opens up to
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REX proposes a grand museum located on a pier over the River Tay in Dundee Scotland.
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The museum will sit prominently on Union street and visually connect the building with the urban fabric of the city.
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Daylighting will be a major feature in the design of the museum so the galleries and exhibition spaces have the best light possible.
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At night each layer of the four story museum will stand out as it is lit from within.
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The shape of the museum was determined by programmatic needs and began as a simple cube with four layers that was stretched to accommodate the gallery space on top.
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The ground floor was shrunk to reduce the building’s footprint and sustainable design was maximized by the inverted pyramid shape.
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The building’s services were placed in the core to centralize them and improve efficiency and circulation. Then the exterior was shrink wrapped to reduce unnecessary building space.
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Finally a mirrored facade was designed to reflect the museum’s surroundings and, in the end, the museum echoes the concept of the Scottish Bluebell.
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The gallery and exhibition space were also thoughtfully planned out with an efficient and flexible layout.
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The gallery space on the top floor benefits from the amazing daylighting from the rooftop skylights.
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The V&A at Dundee’s Grand Staircase is a continuation of the exterior plaza, taking patrons on a journey through design, from initial concepts to points of sale.
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As the Grand Staircase slices through the V&A at Dundee, publicly connecting each of its discrete layers, it integrates tribune seating in the entry to provide a view of the Digital Wall and a meeting point for groups. The Creative Layer provides a
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