International design competition for Finnish architecture and design museum opens

International design teams have been invited to take part in an open design competition for a new museum in Helsinki's South Harbour, anticipated to open in 2030.

The 10,000 square metre building will house a national museum of architecture and design, following the amalgamation of the Design Museum Helsinki and the Museum of Finnish Architecture in January 2024.

The museum's collection will exceed 900,000 artefacts, comprising objects, correspondence, models and photographs documenting the work of internationally renowned design practitioners such as Aino and Alvar Aalto, Eero Aarnio, Maija Isola, Eliel and Eero Saarinen, Paavo Tynell, alongside design brands such as Marimekko, Nokia and Fiskars.

The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design has secured €120 million (AU$197 million) in public funding for the building, half from the City of Helsinki and the other half from the State of Finland. This is supplemented by €30 million (AU$50 million) to be raised from private donors, with a €20 million (AU$33 million) donation secured from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.

The first phase of the two-stage competition has commenced with the deadline for stage one submissions scheduled for 29 August 2024. Three to five designs from stage one will then be selected to progress through to stage two of the competition. Each of the shortlisted teams will be notified in December 2024 and will receive an award of €50,000 (AU$83,000) each.

Stage two will be held over February to May 2025. An international jury comprised of architects, cultural experts and policymakers will judge the competition. The winner to be revealed in September 2025. At the end of the competition, the judging panel will award three prize positions and two purchases totalling €150,000 (AU$248,000).

The jury includes Gus Casely-Hayford (director of V&A East); Beatrice Galilee (co-founder of The World Around); Kaarina Gould (chief executive of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design); Salla Hoppu (leading architect, City of Helsinki); Riitta Kaivosoja (director general, Ministry of Education and Culture); Beate Hølmebakk (partner, Manthey Kula Architects); Matti Kuittinen (Aalto University); Miklu Silvanto (AD Museum); Anni Sinnemäki (City of Helsinki); Sari Nieminen (Architectural Office Sari Nieminen), and Hannu Tikka (APRT Architects). Architect and vice chair of the board of Real Estate Company ADM Mikko Aho will chair the jury, with assistance from vice chair Juha Lemström (chair of Real Estate Company ADM board).