VIDEO: The people of Dundee share their opinions on the new V&A building

DUNDEE is the centre of attention this week as the city’s new V&A Museum prepares to open its doors for the first time.

The building, which forms part of the ‘culture-led regeneration’ of Dundee’s waterfront area, has a striking design that’s led to it becoming one of Scotland’s newest landmarks.

Ahead of its opening, we asked locals what they made of the attraction, and whether they’d be heading along to check it out for themselves.

Derek Moss said he had been down to see it earlier in the day and was disappointed not to be one of the lucky ticket holders getting to see everything first on Saturday.

He said: “I think it’s majestic. It blends in beautifully and give an iconic impression of the quayside.

“The top of Discovery’s sail almost sits on the top of the V&A building as if it’s proudly pointing out to sea, pushing Dundee ahead and showing that once again it’ll be a major city in Britain.”

He also called the new building a “jewel in the crown” of the city’s many attractions and urged tourists to come to the area.

Another who was eagerly anticipating the V&A’s opening was Hannah Newey, originally from London.

She said: “I’m into art anyway so I’ve been looking forward to it. It’s gorgeous, it’s absolutely stunning.”

Jimmy Borland said: “It’s a beautiful model outside but we can’t really judge until we see inside.

“I’ve got a feeling we’ll be surprised and it may well be what a lot of people didn’t think it would be.”

He questioned the wisdom of building more new structures that obscured the view of the V&A from the city centre, a point also raised by fellow pensioner Patricia Rourke, who said: “I’d like to knock down the big building that’s obliterating it.”

She added: “It’s fantastic, It’s already doing things for the city with hotels and coffee shops. I’ll be visiting once the crowds go down. It’s lovely, hats off to Dundee.”

Colin Smith was another who felt it would bring benefits to the city, saying: “I think it’s very impressive, it’ll bring a lot of visitors and plenty of money into the town I’d imagine.”

There were plenty of curious visitors stopping by the fences outside the quayside development, hoping to get a glimpse in.

Anne Drury, in Dundee on holiday from Hull, said: “It looks very interesting, I was disappointed that it wasn’t quite open but we’ve been round the Discovery museum.”

It wasn’t all positive for the V&A, however, with one man – who didn’t want to go on camera – saying it was a “waste of money.”

And David Crabb told us: “I don’t like it, they could’ve got a better design.”

At yesterday’s media event, Councillor John Alexander, leader of Dundee City Council, said: “I know it’s been a topic of conversation in the city and like everything there are those who love it and those that don’t.

“I think it’s fantastic and when you consider what the waterfront looked like before – I don’t hold any punches when I describe it as a hideous monstrosity – what we’ve got now is just a hundred times better.

“This museum is going to open so many doors for ordinary Dundonians in every single area of Dundee, not only in terms of jobs, economy and growth but cultural and social opportunities that haven’t existed before.

“It’s fair to say Dundee has its challenges but it also has a wealth of opportunities and this represents that well.”

The museum opens its doors to ticketed visitors on Saturday, and then fully opens on Monday.