Five Designs Shortlisted for New Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki

People who follow contemporary architecture will no doubt recognize the waterfront site for this competition, as it is roughly the same footprint as that of the Guggenheim Helsinki, which had its own high-profile competition but was rejected by the Helsinki City Council in late 2016. Unlike the Guggenheim, the planned Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design will be a public museum, and its competition is being run through public entities: the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design and Real Estate Company ADM, both of which formed in 2022.

The five shortlisted designs — still anonymous and therefore referred to by entry number and title — were culled from the 623 entries submitted in the first stage of the competition, as revealed in September. Each architect/team is being given €50,000 to develop their proposals, incorporating feedback from the jury and experts, with low-carbon construction and the circular economy being given special attention from them. The public is also invited to comment on the shortlisted projects until January 31, 2025, via the competition website. The results of the competition will be announced in September 2025, when the jury will distribute three prize positions and two purchases, totaling €150,000.

Beate Hølmebakk, one of the members of the 13-person jury*, said in a statement: “The five finalist projects represent different visions for an inviting and inspirational museum situated on one of Helsinki’s most important sites. What these entries share is their potential to be buildings of extraordinary and lasting architectural quality. It is the jury’s opinion that they all have distinct urban presence and exceptional spatial properties that allow the new museum of architecture and design to organize the rich variety of exhibitions and events their ambition calls for. In the next phase these projects will be further developed to meet the demands for a sustainable future.”

“The curved-roofed building, clad entirely in green copper, blends seamlessly into the waterfront landscape and respects the existing surroundings with its moderate height. The structure consists of several rectangular interlocking volumes, creating a small inner courtyard that allows daylight to reach the center of the building. The undulating curved roof signifies that this is a public building, distinct from the neighboring blocks. The proposal is an excellent example of the use of mass timber in load-bearing structures and interior finishes.”

“The new museum building has been designed as a compact and low structure, preserving important views from Tähtitorninvuori Park towards the Market Square and Katajanokka. Despite its low height, the building has a strong character. It is beautifully proportioned, with slanted, stepped walls and triangular openings that reference timeless historical themes. Unlike the other proposals, the building can be accessed from both the Market Square and Laivasillankatu sides, allowing visitors to enter directly into the ground-floor exhibition space.”

“The proposal takes an exceptional stance on views from the site and the museum’s role as a public building alongside the blocks planned for Makasiiniranta. The new building has a wedge-shaped footprint, leaving space on the side for views from the waterfront toward Tähtitorninvuori Park. The movement of museum visitors between spaces has been carefully designed, and the views opening in different directions from the building have been thoughtfully considered. Thanks to its compact form, logical structural system, and use of recycled materials, the building is resource-efficient.”

“The building is sculptural in its extreme simplicity. It demonstrates that to stand out from the surrounding urban fabric a landmark status can be achieved without relying on unconventional shapes, or distinctive materials. The design emphasizes the role of the new museum as an extension of the Market Square, welcoming visitor flows along its entire northern façade, which connects seamlessly to the water mirror of the Vironallas basin.”

“Thanks to its curved wall and roof surfaces, the new building appears tent-like and lightweight in the waterfront landscape, where it fits naturally in front of the existing block frontage. The museum is designed with a distinctive and strong spatial structure: the exhibition spaces surrounding the central hall offer carefully selected views of the sea and the surrounding city.”