The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design, Real Estate Company ADM, the City of Helsinki and SAFA the Finnish Association of Architects have launched an international, open design competition to find a design team for a new 10,050 sq m (GFA) museum building in Helsinki's South Harbour, Finland.

The new Museum of Architecture and Design, slated to open in 2030, combines the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki, which merged successfully in January 2024. The collection, focused on Finnish architecture and design, will feature over 900,000 artifacts, including objects, models, and photographs showcasing the work of renowned practitioners and brands like Alvar Aalto, Marimekko, and Nokia. The project is funded by a combination of public and private sources, including a EUR 120 million (US$ 128 million) public contribution split between the City of Helsinki and the State of Finland, along with EUR 30 million (US$ 32 million) from private donors, including a EUR 20 million (US$ 21 million) donation from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.

The new museum will be situated on a vacant former dockside site in Helsinki's South Harbour, an area rich in history and located centrally near landmarks such as the City's Market Square, Orthodox and Lutheran Cathedrals, and the bustling Esplanade Park. The competition brief specifies the need for a new building spanning 10,050 square meters (GFA), with approximately half of the space allocated for public use and the remainder for operational purposes. The project's total budget is approximately EUR 105 million (US$ 112 million), with construction costs capped at EUR 70 million (US$ 74 million). Construction is scheduled for completion by 2030, and the deadline for submissions for Stage 1 is August 29, 2024. Additional details regarding this tender can be accessed through our Business Opportunity page here.