ARCHITECTURE
Helsinki | Finland
Museum of Architecture and Design - Kuksa
A Helsinki museum concept connecting craft, visitor movement and an elevated public realm with a flexible cultural programme.
Client | Real Estate Company ADM and the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design
RIBA Stages 0-2
Budget | €70m
Area | 11,000 sqm
Use | Education and culture
Status | Public procurement entry
Scope | Concept design
CONTEXT
The proposal addresses a new museum of architecture and design in Helsinki and the opportunity to make the building part of a wider civic destination. The concept needed to connect flexible exhibition requirements with a public experience that could remain active beyond the galleries themselves.
ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSE
Kuksa takes cues from Finnish making traditions and Sámi embroidery. The route through the building is conceived as a form of weaving: a continuous ramp and sequence of spaces connecting exhibitions, circulation and views. Sculpted volumes and raised public space create room for gathering and performance while maintaining a clear museum journey. The proposal also refers to flexible galleries and locally sourced materials. These are presented as competition-design principles. The strength of the case study is the integration of architectural form, visitor movement, craft narrative and public realm into one legible concept.
