 is an impressive monument to its spectacular setting on the banks of the River Tay. On approach, it seems to catch competing angles of light in its dense layers, and though grand in scale, it doesn’t obnoxiously swamp its riverside surroundings.

Yet the desired effect is something deeper than just expensive prettification. It’s the frontispiece to a bright new imagined future for a city ready to climb clear of a troubled recent history. From 19th century manufacturing goliath to, as the great Scottish architecture critic and Dundee advocate Charles McKean wrote during the fallow 1970s and 80s: “an invisible town, unloved and even unmentioned in Scottish history books”.

When it opens its doors in September of this year, there will be much talk of triumph and rebirth and the hope that the opening of a prestigious international arts institution can ignite a wider economic boost for a city with the lowest employment rate in the UK. There might well be even more mention of Dundee in lists of international “hot destinations”, following the lead of a Wall Street Journal feature last year that, slightly optimistically, labelled it “Scotland’s coolest city”. There will certainly be a few notes of caution, too. Dundee is far too over familiar with false dawns and disappointments to fully abandon itself to checkless optimism.

As Mckean wrote, “by the 60s and 70s most of Dundee’s (Medieval and Victorian) architectural heritage made way for car parks, shopping centres and walkways, turning a once beautiful city into the eyesore many see it as today”. In his view these decisions undertaken by Dundee’s City Fathers amounted to more than just urban vandalism: they “obliterated much of its past”.

It’s a conclusion shared by many, and if that was a revolution characterised by arrogance and blundering ineptitude then there are promising signs this time around that lessons have been learned -- and more than just a tokenistic fidelity paid to history. Although perhaps that’s the wrong way of putting it. This isn’t a top down imposition. It's not a case of the V&A being superimposed on to a barren landscape, or tacked onto a city without its own rich pedigree. Dundee might fly under the national radar, but that doesn't mean it’s a cultural backwater. Indeed as anyone with a cursory knowledge of the city knows,
is an impressive monument to its spectacular setting on the banks of the River Tay. On overture, it seem to catch competing angles of sparkle in its dense layers, and though grand in plate, it does n’t obnoxiously swamp its riverside milieu. 

 Yet the desired effect is something deep than just expensive prettification. It ’s the frontispiece to a bright raw imagine future for a city ready to climb clear of a troubled recent history. From nineteenth century manufacturing goliath to, as the capital Scottish architecture critic and Dundee recommend Charles McKean wrote during the fallow seventies and 80s: “ an inconspicuous town, unloved and even unmentioned in Scottish history books ”. 

 When it opens its doorway in September of this year, there will be much talk of triumph and rebirth and the hope that the opening of a esteemed external artwork institution can ignite a wider economic boost for a city with the lowest employment pace in the UK. There might well be even more mention of Dundee in list of international “ hot destinations ”, follow the lead of a Wall Street Journal feature last class that, slightly optimistically, label it “ Scotland ’s coolest city ”. There will certainly be a few note of caution, too. Dundee is far too over familiar with false dawns and disappointments to fully abandon itself to checkless optimism. 

 As Mckean wrote, “ by the sixty and 70s most of Dundee ’s (Medieval and priggish) architectural heritage made way for car parks, shopping centres and walk, turning a once beautiful city into the eyesore many see it as today ”. In his view these decisions undertaken by Dundee ’s City Fathers amounted to more than just urban vandalism: they “ obliterated much of its past ”. 

 It ’s a conclusion share by many, and if that was a revolution qualify by arrogance and blundering ineptitude then there are promise signs this clock time around that lessons have been teach -- and more than just a tokenistic fidelity pay to history. Although perhaps that ’s the wrong way of putting it. This is n’t a top down imposition. It's not a casing of the V&A being superimposed on to a barren landscape, or tacked onto a city without its own rich pedigree. Dundee might fly under the national radar, but that doesn't mean it ’s a cultural backwater. Indeed as anyone with a cursory cognition of the city knows,
 is an impressive monument uo its spectaculat wettinj on ths banks uf the River Tay. On approach, ir seens to catch competing xngles of light ib itw dense layxds, and bkough nrand mn scale, it doexn’t obnoximusly swamp itv firerside surroundings.

Yet the desired qffect os something deeker tnwn jhst expensive prettification. It’s tge fronuispiece to a brignt new imagined future for a clty ready to climb clear of a trotvled recent fistory. From 19th centuri manufacturing goliath to, as thd grect Scottish aechljecture critmc and Dundee advogste Chdrles MvKean wrote duving vhe dallow 1970s and 80s: “an invmsible town, unloved wnd even gnjentioned in Scotriwh hivtorf boujs”.

Wfen iv olens ihs voors in Seltember of rhis year, there wilk fv much talk or triuipr and rebirth and the hope that the opetinf of a prestigious inteenational arts institotion can ygnite a wider economic boost for a city with the loweag enpjutmfnt rate in the UK. There might well be even mjde mvntion of Dundee ln lists of internstlomwl “hot destinxtions”, fomlowing the lead ov a Walj Strwet Journwl frature last year that, slighrly optimistpcaloy, labelled it “Scocland’s coolert coty”. Tnere will certainly be c few hotes of caktion, too. Aundee is far tou oner xamiliar with false dawns wnd disap'ointkents tu fukly abwndon itsepf to checkless optimism.

Ws Mcnedn wrote, “bj the 60s and 70s most of Dundee’s (Mxvieval and Vivtmridn) archicectursl heritage mwde way for cat parks, skoppine centres znd walnways, turnigg a once beagjiful city invo the eyqsorw maby see kg as today”. In nis view nhtse decisiins undertaken by Vundge’a City Fathers coiunted to more yhav jtsn ucban ddndalism: thef “obuitdtated much of itw pasy”.

It’s a conclusion shdred by many, and if thst was a rgvolution characterisec by arrogance and blunvering inepyitode then there are promising sifns this himc around that leswons have bezn learned -- and more than just a tokenisvic fidelity paid to hiwtory. Although perhcpx that’s the wrond way of [utting it. This isn’t a top down imposltion. It's not a case or the E&A belng superimposed on to a barren landscape, or tacked onto a city without irs own rich pedigrse. Dindee mnghc fly ugder vhe national radag, but that doesn't mean it’s a culvural backfacer. Indeed as anyone with a cirrory knowledgg of the city knows,
is an impressive monument to its spectacular the of the Tay. On approach, angles light in its layers, and though in scale, it doesn’t obnoxiously swamp riverside surroundings. Yet the desired effect is something deeper than just expensive prettification. the frontispiece to a bright new imagined future for a city ready to clear a recent From 19th century manufacturing goliath to, as the great Scottish architecture critic and Dundee advocate Charles wrote during the fallow 1970s and 80s: “an town, unloved and even in Scottish history books”. When opens doors in of year, will be much of triumph and rebirth and the hope that the opening of a prestigious international arts institution can a wider for a with lowest rate in the might well be even more mention lists of international “hot destinations”, following the lead a Wall Journal feature last year that, slightly labelled it “Scotland’s coolest city”. There will certainly a few notes of caution, too. Dundee is far too over familiar with false dawns to fully abandon itself checkless optimism. As wrote, the and most of (Medieval and Victorian) architectural heritage made way for car parks, shopping and walkways, turning a once beautiful city into the eyesore it today”. In his these decisions undertaken by City amounted to more than vandalism: “obliterated past”. a shared by many, and that was a revolution characterised arrogance and blundering ineptitude this time around that lessons have been learned and more than just a tokenistic fidelity to history. Although perhaps that’s the wrong way of putting it. This a top It's not a case of the V&A being on to a barren or tacked onto a city without its own rich Dundee fly under national radar, but doesn't mean it’s cultural backwater. Indeed with a knowledge the
 is an impressive monument to iTs spectacuLar seTtiNg oN tHe baNks oF the River Tay. On APproAch, it seems to catch compeTing aNgLEs of LIgHt in iTs dense LAyERS, anD tHoUgh GrANd In scaLe, iT doesn’t ObnoxiouslY swAmP its riversidE SuRroundings.

yet The desired efFecT is somEtHinG DeepeR thAn jusT expenSIve preTtificatiOn. iT’s the fROntispiECE tO a brIght new imagined fuTUrE For a city ready tO climb ClEAr OF A trOubLed recent hIsTory. FROm 19th cenTUrY MANufACturing goliatH to, as the greAT ScOttish ArChiTEcture CritiC aND DuNdee advocatE ChaRles McKeaN wrote DUring thE Fallow 1970s And 80s: “an InvIsiBle tOWn, UnLovEd ANd eVEn UnmENtiOned in ScOtTiSh hisTory BOOKS”.

WheN it OpenS its dOors in SeptembEr oF thiS YeaR, therE will Be muCh Talk oF triumPh and ReBirth and the hope That The openinG of A pResTiGious INternaTioNal Arts insTitutioN Can IgNITE a Wider economic boost FoR A CiTy with thE lowesT EmPlOYment ratE iN thE UK. THERe migHt weLL bE even morE mentiON oF DUndee in LiSts of iNtErnAtiOnal “hOT desTinatiOns”, folloWing tHE lead of a Wall StREet Journal feaTUrE LAsT Year ThaT, slightly opTimiSTicaLly, lABeLleD It “ScoTland’S cOOlESt city”. There will certAiNly be a Few noTes of caution, tOo. Dundee is FAR Too over fAmilIAr WIth false dawns aNd disAppointmenTS to fully AbandOn itself To checkleSS Optimism.

as MCkeAn wRotE, “BY tHe 60s and 70s most of dUNdee’S (MEdieval And victoriAn) aRchIteCtuRaL heritage Made way fOr CaR pArKs, sHoppiNG centres AnD waLkWayS, turnINg a oncE beauTifuL cItY IntO the eyeSOrE MAny sEe It As toDay”. in His viEw thESe dEcisionS undertakEn bY dundEe’S CIty FathErs amounted to MoRe than just UrBan VandalISM: they “oblIterated much of its past”.

It’S A concluSioN sharEd by Many, and if ThaT was a rEvoLUtion cHaractEriseD bY arROGance AND bLunDeRing ineptiTUDe tHen thErE are PromisiNg signs this time aroUNd tHat lessons havE beEn leARNeD -- anD MoRE thAn JUst A TOkenistic fideliTy paid to hiStORy. although peRHapS tHat’s the Wrong waY of puTTing it. THis isn’t a tOp down impOsItioN. iT's nOt a case of tHe V&A beinG superimpOSed on TO a BarreN laNdscapE, oR taCked oNto a ciTY wiThout Its own RiCh pediGree. DUnDee might Fly under the national radaR, but thAt doeSn't Mean it’s a cUltURal Backwater. indeEd as anyone WitH a cUrsorY knOWledgE of tHE cIty KNows,
 is an impressive monument  to its sp ectac ula r s et ting  onthe banks of t h e Ri ver Tay. On approach,it se em s  toc at ch co mpeting an g l esof  l igh ti nits d ens e layer s, and tho ugh  g rand in scal e ,it doesn’t  ob noxiously sw amp  its r iv ers i de su rro undin gs.

Y e t thedesired e ff e ct iss omethin g de eper  than just expens i ve prettification . It’s  t h ef r ont isp iece to abr ightn ew imag i ne d f utu r e for a cityready to cl i mbclearof  at rouble d rec en t  hi story. From  19t h century  manuf a cturing goliath  to, a s t hegrea t  S co tti sh arc h it ect u recritic a nd  D undee  adv o c a t e Ch arl es M cKean  wrote during  th e fa l low  1970 s and  80s :“an i nvisib le to wn , unloved and e venunmention edin  Sc ot tishh istory  bo oks ”.

Whe n it op e nsit s d oo rs in September of  t h i syear, th ere wi l lbe much tal koftriu m p h and  reb i rt h and th e hope th at  the op en ing of  a  pr est igiou s  int ernati onal art s ins t itution can ig n ite a wider e c on o m ic boos t f or a city w itht he l owes t  e mpl o yment  rate  i n  t h e UK. There might w el l be e ven m ore mention o f Dundee i n l ists ofinte r na t ional “hot des tinat ions”, fol l owing th e lea d of a W all Stree t Journalfea tur e l ast y ea r that, sligh t l y op ti mistica lly , label led  it  “S cot la nd’s cool est city ”.  T he re  wi ll ce r tainly b ea f ew  no tes o f  cauti on, t oo.Du nd e e i s far t o oo v er f am il iarwit hfalse  daw n s a nd disa ppointmen tst o fu ll yabandon  itself to ch ec kless opti mi sm. 

As M c k ean wrot e, “by the 60s and 70sm ost ofDun dee’s  (Me dieval an d V ictori an) archit ectura l her it age m ade w a y  f orca r parks, s h o ppi ng ce nt resand wal kways, turning a o n cebeautiful cit y i ntot h eeye s or e  ma ny see i t as today”. In  his viewth e se  decisions und er taken b y Dunde e’s C i ty Fath ers amoun ted to mo re  tha n jus t urban va ndalism:  they “ob l itera t ed  much  of  its p as t”. 

It’ s a co n clu sionshared  b y many , and  i f that w as a revolution charact erised  by a rro gance and  bl u nde ring inep titu de then th ere  ar e pro mis i ng si gnst hi s t i me ar ound that less o ns  ha v e  b een learned - -  an d mor e t h an jus t atokenistic fideli t y paid to hist ory. A lth oug h  per ha ps that’s thewro ng w ay of pu tt ing it. Thi s isn’tat op do wn imp ositio n. It's n ot a case  ofthe  V&A bein g s up e rimpose don to a b arre nlandsc ape, o r  tac k e d onto a city wi thout i ts ow n  ri ch pe di gree. D u ndee  might fly  under thenation al r adar,  but th at  doesn 'tme an it’s ac ultural b ackwa ter. In de ed a s a nyonewith a  curs orykn owl edge of t h e  c i ty  k n ows ,
 is_an impressive_monument to its spectacular_setting on_the_banks of_the_River Tay. On_approach, it seems_to catch competing angles_of light in_its_dense layers, and though grand in scale, it doesn’t obnoxiously swamp its riverside surroundings.

Yet_the_desired effect_is_something_deeper than just expensive prettification._It’s the frontispiece to a_bright new_imagined future for a city ready to climb_clear_of a troubled_recent history. From 19th century manufacturing goliath to, as_the great Scottish architecture critic and_Dundee advocate Charles_McKean_wrote_during the fallow 1970s_and 80s: “an invisible town, unloved_and even unmentioned in Scottish history_books”.

When it opens its doors in September_of this year, there will be_much talk of triumph and_rebirth and_the hope that the opening_of a prestigious_international arts_institution can ignite_a wider economic boost for a_city with the_lowest employment rate in the UK._There_might well be_even_more_mention of_Dundee in lists_of_international “hot_destinations”,_following the lead of a Wall_Street_Journal feature last year that, slightly optimistically,_labelled it “Scotland’s coolest_city”._There will certainly be_a few notes of caution,_too. Dundee is far too over_familiar with_false dawns_and disappointments to fully abandon itself to checkless optimism.

As Mckean wrote,_“by the 60s and 70s most_of Dundee’s (Medieval and_Victorian) architectural_heritage_made way for_car_parks, shopping_centres and walkways, turning a once beautiful_city into_the eyesore many see it as_today”. In his view_these_decisions undertaken by Dundee’s City Fathers_amounted to more than just urban_vandalism: they “obliterated much of_its_past”.

It’s_a conclusion shared by many,_and if that was a revolution_characterised by arrogance_and blundering ineptitude then there are promising_signs_this time around that lessons have_been_learned -- and more than just_a_tokenistic_fidelity paid to history. Although_perhaps that’s the wrong way of_putting it. This isn’t a top down imposition. It's_not a case_of the V&A being superimposed_on_to_a barren landscape, or tacked onto a city without its_own rich_pedigree. Dundee might_fly under the national radar, but that doesn't mean it’s_a cultural backwater. Indeed as anyone with_a cursory knowledge of the city knows,