Zaha Hadid's design for the new museum building. Courtesy Glasgow City Council

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter, has cut the first turf at the site of Glasgow’s major museum building project, the £74million Riverside Museum.

The museum, designed by internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid, was conceived several years ago to house the city’s transport and technology collections.

“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,” said the Lord Provost.

“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.”

The current Transport Museum at Kelvin Hall. Courtesy Glasgow City Council

The museum will house the Museum of Transport collection currently held at Kelvin Hall in the city, and is intended to attract more than one million visitors a year as part of the regenerated river Clyde area. Inside will be 3,000 objects, from trams to locomotives, whilst the Glenlee tall ship will be moored alongside on the river.

It has been funded by Glasgow City Council, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£18.15m) and Glasgow Harbour, while the Riverside Museum Appeal aims to raise a further £5 million.

“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,” said Zaha Hadid.

“I look forward to early 2011 when the vision will be complete and the museum will open to the people of Glasgow and Scotland.”