New modern museum for architecture and design in Helsinki

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Bold move by Helsinki: 60 million euro investment paves the way for a modern museum of architecture and design

In a groundbreaking decision, the Helsinki City Council has given the green light for a capital donation of 60 million euros to support the establishment of the future National Museum of Architecture and Design. Complementing this financial boost, the Finnish state has pledged an equivalent sum, with an additional 30 million euros sought from private donors.

Come April, an international design competition for the innovative museum building will kick off, aiming to make the museum a focal point in a new, pedestrian-friendly district in Helsinki's South Harbour. On February 14, the Helsinki City Council approved a total capital donation of 60 million euros, marking a crucial step toward realizing the vision of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design. The Finnish state, reaffirming its commitment in December 2023, will match this funding, and the foundation aims to raise a minimum of 30 million euros from private sources, ensuring a solid financial foundation for the project. According to the planned schedule, the museum is expected to open its doors in Helsinki's South Harbour by 2030, operated by an entity resulting from the merger of the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum Helsinki. Mayor Juhana Vartiainen expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, "This new museum is set to both enhance Helsinki's global profile and provide a new, meaningful incentive to visit Helsinki. The museum will serve as a cultural hub for the rapidly developing South Harbour area, creating a new, inviting urban space in Helsinki’s premier maritime location. It represents a sustainable investment that will create jobs, generate commerce, and attract tourists to Helsinki. The museum is an investment in the future, and it's exciting to see the plans now coming to fruition."

International design spectacle

The launch of the design competition is scheduled for April 11, 2024, featuring an international, two-stage competition to select an architecturally outstanding design for the museum building. The competition, conducted in English, is organized by the Real Estate Company ADM, jointly owned by the City of Helsinki and the Finnish state, in collaboration with the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design, the Finnish Association of Architects SAFA, and the City of Helsinki. The aim is to create a top-tier museum space and revitalize urban landscapes in Helsinki’s burgeoning South Harbour area. The competition program will be unveiled on April 11, 2024, with results expected to be announced in August 2025.

More on the Museum of architecture and design in Helsinki.

Header: © Sami Saastamoinen / Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design