Guggenheim Museum

A museum integrated into its surroundings, a landscaped architecture
A continuation of the public space, the museum has become a space that can host all kinds of display, an autonomous pedestrian infrastructure modelled on the highline and punctuated by architectural creations.

With this project, we have tried to arouse the curiosity and aspirations of the users in the shared spaces. The Guggenheim Museum thus becomes a thriving part of the port, a focus point for the city. It is a functional building integrated into its environment like a natural landmark. With its two stories, it will not obstruct the view of the existing urban façade.

A scenic belvedere looking out to the horizon
A site for rediscovery of the town and its port, the museum beckons users, guiding them from the quays up to the highest points. The rooftop events space is a true landscaped space with alternating mineral and green spaces. Functioning according to the seasons, two winding paths make their way from the inside to the outside of the building. These paths, punctuated with patios, play host to sculptures and allow light into the heart of the museum.

Functional and flexible organization
The organization of the museum is simple and flexible, the exhibition spaces forming the link between the project’s public and private spaces. The Guggenheim Museum is a contextual project, a veritable exhibition toolbox, made up of free, flexible and polyvalent levels. The exhibition rooms and the route offer a wide range of organizational and modular possibilities. The atrium is an ideal space for exhibiting sculptures or temporary installations. A genuine showroom, it is designed as a site of artistic and sensorial experimentation. The aim of the museum is to improve the public’s relationship with art throughout the various spaces. It will transform the district not only from an urban perspective, but also as a result of its social and cultural influence. The new building exerts a magnetic force, and is capable of influencing and organizing the surrounding public spaces across the entirety of a landscaped strip. The overall impression of the project is that of a functional and technical tool which signals the dynamism of the city of Helsinki.

Natural filtering structure
Posts made of light wood positioned on both sides of the window panes filter the landscape like a birch forest. Thanks to a careful, transparent arrangement, the Guggenheim Museum is a showcase looking onto the city and the port, allowing users to see the inner workings of the town and, above all, framing the view out to sea like a window. An events pavilion positioned on the roof acts as an information desk, allowing passers-by to discover at a glimpse the latest cultural programs: contemporary dance, theatre, exhibitions and previews.