Ever been to Dundee on a wet, windy day, world's top architects are asked

They had been hailed as "stunning, brilliant and fantastic" at a grand unveiling four weeks ago.

But eye-catching designs for an iconic outpost of the V&A Museum to be built on Dundee's waterfront have failed to impress the group that guards the city's architectural heritage.

The team behind the landmark building, to be erected on a promontory on the Firth of Tay, selected six proposals by some of the world's leading architects to compete in the final stages of an international design competition.

But it was revealed yesterday that Dundee Civic Trust has been left underwhelmed by some of the designs chosen for the shortlist from which the winning contract will be awarded. The organisation believes half of the submissions, from firms in America, Norway, Japan, Austria and Scotland, should be thrown out before a winner is chosen.

The trust has branded one unidentified design as "frankly bizarre".

And it said: "It would appear that none of the creators of the schemes has ever walked along the Esplanade on a wet and windy winter day."

The trust is demanding that three of the six designs - by New York-based Steven Holl Architects, Edinburgh-based Sutherland Hussey Architects and Oslo-based Snhetta - should be taken out of the competition, which is being run by the Design Dundee partnership.

The trust has also expressed doubts that a fourth short-listed design, by Japanese architects Kengo Kuma and Associates, could be built within the scheme's 47 million budget.

Jack Searle, the chairman of the planning group of Dundee Civic Trust - motto "encouraging the best" - wrote in a letter to the Design Dundee partnership that, as the trust's membership encompasses a wide range of opinions, the organisation does not wish to indicate a clear preference for one particular scheme.

But the letter, submitted as part of the public consultation process, goes on to voice the planning group's concerns about the practicalities of some of the shortlisted blueprints as well as their failure to deal with the servicing requirements of the museum.

Mr Searle said: "All would need to go through the complicated process of development of a project from a design model to a completed building. This can result in greatly increased costs and in a loss of the clarity of the design due to structural requirements.

"Problems of maintenance and durability do not affect models but they do affect buildings."For all these reasons the trust would expect that the panel judging the schemes will have architectural, costing and engineering advice within its ranks which would enable it to foresee such problems."

And he claimed: "It would appear that none of the creators of the schemes has ever walked along the Esplanade on a wet and windy winter day. The need to provide some form of sheltered access from the shore to the selected building is particularly important whichever design is selected.

"Whilst the long views across the Tay are magnificent, the tidal and muddy nature of the river at its edge is not particularly attractive. There would seem to be some question as to why access decks for some of the schemes feature holes in them looking down into the river."

He added: "Some schemes have not really come to terms with the servicing requirements of the museum and one features a solution which does nothing for the appearance of the building and is frankly bizarre.

"On the basis of these points and a general evaluation of the schemes the trust is of the opinion that the Sutherland Hussey, Steven Holl, and Snhetta designs should be rejected at this stage. We also have some doubts as to whether the very much larger building designed by Kenyo Kuma could be delivered within the agreed budget."

A spokesman for Design Dundee said: "We can confirm we have received the letter from Dundee Civic Trust and we are delighted to have their input. It will be considered by the jury panel along with all of the other public feedback we have received."

He added: "The level of interest has been overwhelming.

"We have had around 9,000 questionnaires returned, which is a fantastic response."

He said an announcement on the winner was due next week.