Pride and Joy

Those of us who perceive our selves as belonging to Glasgow have a very special relationship with our museums and art galleries; you could see this in the emotional response to the refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery when stories of being taken there by parents on a 1950s Sunday to marvel at the woolly mammoth and see the Dali painting simply poured out, complete with tears of joy at the excellent refurb.

So it is with trepidation that we visit the new Transport Museum, The Riverside. Will it be a square peg as it was at Kelvinhall? Will it have the shabby hands-on feel of its old Albert Drive home? Will the destroyer models still be on display? What about the 1950s tram?

And then there is Glasgow's obsession with fine architecture. Hadid arouses strong feelings; how will we react?

In my totally subjective view, this museum is an absolute triumph! I love the building. The architect has facilitated a relationship between the river, its history and its present with lines and curves which seem entirely organic yet clean and modern. She is an honorary Glaswegian.

There will be those who make a career out of criticising the building. I don't care! To me it is awe-inspiring and is entirely consonant with the soul of the city. It is a wonderful space for its purpose.

Love it! Love it! Love it!