13 May 2011

KENGO KUMA - public lectures now sold out

An unprecedented demand for tickets has seen two lectures by Kengo Kuma, the lead architect on the V&A at Dundee project, completely sell out.

Mr Kuma was originally scheduled to give his first public lecture in Scotland at 6 pm on May 21st. An earlier presentation of the same lecture was then added for 12.30pm the same day to allow as many people to hear it as possible.

Now all tickets for both lectures have been taken up - over 1500 in total.

'The interest we are continuing to receive in the whole V&A at Dundee project, but particularly in these lectures by Mr Kuma, has been absolutely tremendous,' said Judith Barnard, Director of External Relations at the University of Dundee.

'We added the second lecture to try and let as many people come along as possible and we are delighted that the public have responded so positively. Unfortunately it does mean that we cannot offer any more tickets, but for those who cannot make it we will be making a film of the lecture available through our website soon.'

Kengo Kuma & Associates won the design competition for the V&A at Dundee building. A Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Tokyo, Mr Kuma also holds the prestigious Architectural Institute of Japan Award (1997).

His public lecture is titled 'The Answer is Architecture' and will be presented at the University's Dalhousie Building on Saturday May 21st, from 12.30 pm and then again from 6pm.

Entrance is strictly by ticket only, and all tickets have now been allocated.

There will be a main lecture theatre in use, with the lecture also relayed by video to additional theatres (all ticket holders have been advised of this arrangement). Seating in the main lecture theatre will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

In this exclusive lecture, Mr Kuma will explore the role that architecture has in connecting people to their environment. He will discuss how a well-designed building acts as an operating system for society and can mark a defining moment of civilisation.

The title of the lecture answers the question of whether a building can enhance our relationship with the environment rather than detracting from it.

For more on the V&A at Dundee see www.vandaatdundee.com.

The V&A at Dundee is being delivered by Design Dundee Ltd, a partnership between the V&A and Dundee City Council, the Universities of Dundee and Abertay Dundee, and Scottish Enterprise.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902