The museum is designed to be an iconic cultural landmark in Finland with a strong, recognisable character that also respects its context. The museum’s footprint structures the site strategically, establishing distinctive urban zones at either side. The civic urban areas are concentrated on the South and West to activate the waterfront and maximise sunlight. This scheme is rooted in biophilic principles, prioritising sustainability, human-scale and well-being.
Our vision for a museum of the future is a vibrant, community-centric organisation with a dynamic central public hub that serves as a focal point for civic and cultural activities. Creating a flexible space where functions can spill out allows for social engagement visible to all.
The museum’s envelope is highly porous on the public, sun-facing South-West façade, fostering a strong visual and physical connection between the interior and exterior and increasing social engagement.
The brief of the museum focuses on both the past and the future of the city, so the design of the building includes two small exhibition spaces focused on these topics. The exhibition space about the city’s history faces the local castle and the historic centre of the city, whilst the exhibition space about the future looks on towards the sea, where future tourism will come from. This extends the exhibition spaces visually and creates a direct link between what is being learnt and the city.
The museum programme is organised in a layered manner. The most civic functions - the public hub and the auditorium - are positioned in the South-West corner, maximising sunlight exposure for dynamic activities and activating the urban realm. The logistics and exhibition spaces are placed in the central and North areas for energy efficiency, light control and minimal contact with the urban realm.
The simple building geometry allows for a strong grid, facilitating structural organisation and programme arrangement. This grid is what allows the building to be highly flexible, enhancing the vibrancy and resilience of the museum. This allows the South-facing interior public hub to open to the sea, connecting the building and waterfront. The auditorium‘s west facade opens to the external events plaza and stage. Internally, it opens to the informal gathering space next to it, broadening event possibilities even further.
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