News Archive

PRESS RELEASE – 13/05/2008
Eddie has Designs on Dubai with Dundee Monument

The Dundee schoolboy who won a competition to come up with ideas for a major international monument to showcase the City of Discovery will take a scale model of his concept to Dubai with him this month.

His vision has been turned into a reality by sculptor Doug Cocker, who has created a model of the monument that will eventually be erected in the Cosmopolitan hub of the Middle East.

Thirteen-year-old Eddie Hunt, a pupil at Morgan Academy, aimed high with his concept – in fact the highest point in the city. Eddie’s concept of a design based around the 571ft Law Hill, with a fountain incorporated and a representation of the River Tay at its base, claimed top spot with the judging panel.

Around 100 entries – including many from city schools – were received following the announcement of the public competition open to all in Dundee.

Dubai, Sister City to Dundee, invited the City of Discovery to submit plans for a monument to represent the modern Dundee. The Dubai Municipality will then create the monument in Za’abeel Park, one of its main parks, alongside monuments to cities such as Geneva, Istanbul, Shanghai and Osaka.

To that end, The City of Discovery Campaign in conjunction with the City Council, the Al-Maktoum Institute, Six Cities Design Festival, Hilton Hotels and Emirates Airline asked local people to take part in a unique competition to decide what the sculpture or monument should be and send their concepts for the monument.

Drawing skills were irrelevant, with the ideas and concepts the vital ingredients in the competition.

Lord Provost John Letford, Chairman of the City of Discovery Campaign and one of the judges, said: “The Law is perhaps the best known and most enduring feature of the city’s skyline, and is visible from miles around. The City has grown around it and developed and evolved over centuries, and so the judges felt that Eddie’s concept was totally appropriate. Now we have seen how Doug Cocker has brought Eddie’s concept to life we can be even more proud of our entry.”

Eddie said: “It is fantastic to win. I thought it was a good idea, but I had no idea it would turn out to be the winner. I am just delighted, and look forward to visiting Dubai.”

Eddie“s winning entry brought him a prize of £500 and he will also receive return flights (courtesy of Emirates) for two on their non-stop service from Glasgow to Dubai with three nights accommodation at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah (sponsored by Hilton Dundee). He travels out later this month.