Work on the £80.1 million V&A Museum of Design Dundee project has been hailed as "beautiful" by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.

Mr Kuma made the comments during a visit to the schemes construction site on Friday, 01 April.

Marking a year since work got underway on the project, Lord Provost Bob Duncan led Mr Kuma on a 'walk in' to the building, which now has its full footprint in place.

Representatives from the city council and BAM Construction also attended the tour.

Key milestones achieved on the project so far include the completion of a coffer dam which enabled the foundation construction for the part of the building that will sit out over the Tay, groundworks on the former reclaimed dock site, piling for the ground source heating system and remodelling of the river wall.

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This year, works will involve developing the core inner walls, stairwell and lift cores as well as the outer double curvature walls of the building.

In 2017, pre-cast panels are to be installed to the exterior, giving the building its unique slatted, multi-layered appearance. Overall, the building is due to be completed in 2018.

Kengo Kuma said: "We are delighted that our vision for the V&A Dundee building, which was originally inspired by the beautiful River Tay setting, is now starting to take physical shape. Great progress is being made with the construction and already you can see the connection between the waterfront and the city is so much stronger.

"I am very proud to be part of this exciting development for the city of Dundee and Scotland and to be creating a museum that will inspire people to visit from the UK and beyond."

Philip Long, Director, V&A Museum of Design Dundee, added: "V&A Dundee will be Scotland's first museum dedicated to design, telling the inspirational story of Scotland's design heritage and bringing the most important international exhibitions from the V&A to Scotland. The building itself will be part of that story, an inspiring place to visit and enjoy.

"It is hugely exciting to see it develop day by day as we start to realise Kengo Kuma's remarkable design."

(LM/MH)