JKMM Wins Competition for New Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki
Helsinki's JKMM Architects has won a high-profile international competition to design a new Museum of Architecture and Design on a prominent waterfront site in the Finnish capital.
The international, open competition for Finland's new Museum of Architecture and Design launched in April 2024, garnering more than 600 anonymous entries—and a lot of attention. Much of the attention stemmed from the museum's site, coinciding with the waterfront plot eyed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation for a new branch of the Guggenheim a decade earlier. That project was aborted in late 2016. Then, in 2022, the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design and the Helsinki- and Finland-owned Real Estate Company ADM were formed, beginning the process for the competition for a new museum that will combine the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki.
Today's announcement sees the culmination of the two-stage competition that maintained the anonymity of the architects over its 18 months, even after five finalists were selected last December. “Kumma” was the name of JKMM Architects' winning entry, for which the firm will receive €60,000 in prize money. A second prize of €35,000 is being given to Cossement Cardoso, with offices in Belgium and Portugal, for their “City, Sea and Sky” entry. A third prize of €25,000 will go to Switzerland's Lopes Brenna for its “Moby” entry. A fourth prize of €20,000 is going to “Tyrsky,” which was designed by a collective of Finnish architects. Finally, a purchase option of €10,000 was made to secure the “TAU” design by Atelier Orda from France.
“The jury made a unanimous decision in the anonymous competition. Kumma blends into the cityscape, protecting valuable views of the historic waterfront, while at the same time standing out as a recognizable landmark. The use of recycled brick on the facade brings sculptural, architectural warmth and the terrace surrounding the building strengthens the connection to the city. The winning proposal, which is perceived as monumental and angular, is intended to be developed in a more approachable direction. We and the design team share the view that climate-smart solutions are at the heart of further development.”
Throughout the competition process, the jury and public provided comments on the designs. In the first stage, the Kumma entry was seen as “closed and heavy,” with the facades “lack[ing] the desired degree of openness” and the lobby receiving “insufficient daylight.” These and other concerns were addressed in the second stage design shown here, with the jury finding an “improved” plan, “softened” facades, and new openings providing “inviting views.” Still, the jury asserted, “sharp corners, the monumental staircase, and the triangular geometry continue to raise concerns regarding usability and accessibility.” Regardless of this and any further critiques, “Kumma demonstrates strong potential to become a distinctive and memorable museum.”
“I hope that the planning and realization of the new Museum of Architecture and Design can show the way for how new things can be built responsibly and with skill. Architecture and design are deeply human – they are born from dreams and longing, and they gain their meaning in the places where we can experience and live together.”
As part of today's announcement, the competition organizers revealed that approximately 20% of the international entries came from Finland, while “a significant proportion” came from Italy, the USA, France, and the UK. As indicated above, JKMM Architects was one of two Finnish teams among the five finalists, with the slight majority coming from other European countries.
The total budget of the 10,050 m2 project is around €105 million, with construction costs not to exceed €70 million. Construction is set to commence in 2027 and be complete by 2030.
- Mikko Aho (Chair), Architect SAFA; Vice Chair, Vice-Chair of Real Estate Company ADM
- Juha Lemström (Vice Chair), Architect SAFA; Chair, Real Estate Company ADM
- Gus Casely-Hayford, Director, V&A East
- Beatrice Galilee, Architect; Executive Director, The World Around
- Kaarina Gould, CEO, Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design
- Salla Hoppu, Architect SAFA; Leading Architect, City of Helsinki
- Riitta Kaivosoja, Director General, Ministry of Education and Culture, Department for Art and Cultural Policy
- Beate Hølmebakk, Architect, Professor, Partner, Manthey Kula Architects
- Matti Kuittinen, Architect, Associate Professor, Aalto University
- Miklu Silvanto, Chief Design Officer, ŌURA; Board Member, AD Museum
- Anni Sinnemäki, Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment, City of Helsinki
- Sari Nieminen, Architect SAFA, Architectural Office Sari Nieminen
- Hannu Tikka, Architect SAFA, Professor, APRT Architects
