Substantive work on Britain's biggest museum project has got
under way, after the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, cut the
first turf at the £74 million Riverside Museum site.
The ground breaking ceremony marked the substantive phase of
building work which will see the iconic building, designed by
internationally renowned architect, Zaha Hadid, begin to take shape
on the banks of the Clyde.
The Lord Provost said: "Just days after we won the right to host
the Commonwealth Games in 2014, we're cutting the turf on what is
Britain's biggest and most exciting museum project.
"Our ambition for Glasgow knows no bounds and our new museum
will be a global icon and the shining beacon at the heart of the
outstanding regeneration of the Clyde.
"There is real belief and confidence in Glasgow and I'm
delighted to mark the day where we see the birth of what promises
to be another landmark we can all be proud of."
Funding from the museum comes from Glasgow City Council, with
support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Glasgow Harbour. The
Riverside Museum Appeal, led by Sir Robert Smith, has recently
embarked on a public appeal which hopes to raise £5 million toward
the cost.
The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £18.15 million, one of the
biggest ever grants in Scotland. Dr Sheena Wurthmann, a member of
the HLF's Committee for Scotland, said: "Today we have witnessed an
exciting milestone in the redevelopment of Glasgow's riverside.
"This project will not only allow the Museum of Transport to
engage people in their past in a more interesting and dynamic way,
but it will be a stunning tourist attraction, bringing life back to
this area of the city. The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to be
behind the Riverside Museum as a beacon of contemporary heritage
for Glasgow and Scotland."
The museum's architect, Zaha Hadid, said: "I am delighted that
construction on the Museum is starting. It's a moment of excitement
and expectation for all of us working on the project and for the
city of Glasgow.
"I see the Museum of Transport as a place for people of all
ages, reflecting the importance of Glasgow's significant
contribution to worldwide commerce and communication, whilst
feeding the cultural vitality of the city and inspiring new
generations to innovation. Since 2004 we have been working with
Glasgow City Council to achieve the goal of a new museum and this
is a key milestone towards completing the vision.
"I look forward to early 2011 when the vision will be complete
and the museum will open to the people of Glasgow and
Scotland."
Euan Jamieson, the Managing Director of Glasgow Harbour, said:
"We are delighted that work has begun to create a contemporary new
home for one of the UK's most popular museums.
"The new Riverside Museum is an integral part of the £1.2bn
Glasgow Harbour development and is being built on a site which has
been donated by Glasgow Harbour to Glasgow City Council. This
iconic building will create a unique tourist destination on the
regenerated banks of the Clyde, attracting more than one million
visitors a year to the city.
"Glasgow Harbour will continue to invest in the area, building
on the £25 million worth of infrastructure works which will unlock
the site for future inward investment and we will continue to work
in partnership with Glasgow City Council to realise our shared
vision for a world-class waterfront for Glasgow."
Ken McAlpine, the Regional Director of HBG Construction Ltd, the
main contractor on the project, said: "HBG is delighted to follow
up our previously successful partnerships with the City Council at
both the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and City Halls by
joining with them to deliver the new Museum of Transport on
Clydeside and add to the long list of major attractions to the
city."
The new museum will also provide a new home for the Glenlee Tall
Ship, which will be moored alongside on the Clyde.
The radical design of the building will house around 3,000
objects, ranging from locomotives to Glasgow trams and exact
replicas of streets from various stages in the city's history. When
open in early 2011, it will cover almost the same floorspace as the
nearby Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.