JKMM architects wins competition to design finland's museum of architecture and design

JKMM to design Finland’s Museum of Architecture and design

JKMM Architects wins the international competition to design Finland’s new Museum of Architecture and Design, a landmark waterfront project planned for Helsinki’s historic South Harbour. Emerging from 624 anonymous entries (find designboom’s previous coverage here), the winning proposal, known during the competition as Kumma, is designed to anchor a prominent site by the Market Square and Suomenlinna’s UNESCO buffer zone, offering a new cultural focal point for the city. Set to open in 2030, the museum will unite Finland’s two major design institutions and house a collection of more than 900,000 artifacts.

‘I hope that the planning and realization of the new Museum of Architecture and Design can show the way for how new things can be built responsibly and with skill,’ shares Samuli Miettinen, founding partner and principal designer at JKMM Architects. ‘Architecture and design are deeply human – they are born from dreams and longing, and they gain their meaning in the places where we can experience and live together.’

all renderings by MIR

a global competition for a new cultural landmark in helsinki

Launched in April 2024, the competition drew submissions from across the world, with around 20% of entries from Finland and strong representation from Italy, the USA, France, and the UK. The jury, chaired by Mikko Aho, selected Helsinki-based practice JKMM’s entry for its ability to integrate with the harbor cityscape while maintaining a clear civic presence. The winning design stands out for its sculptural use of recycled brick, its strong urban terrace, and its potential to balance monumentality with approachability as the design develops.

Second prize went to Cossement Cardoso (Portugal/Belgium) for the project City, Sea and Sky, while Swiss studio Lopes Brenna received third prize for Moby. A collective of Finnish architects and the French office Atelier Orda were also recognized, the former with a fourth prize for Tyrsky and the latter with a purchase option for TAU.

JKMM Architects wins the international competition to design Finland’s new Museum of Architecture and Design

south harbour site and urban transformation

The JKMM-designed museum is set to rise on a vacant dockside plot in South Harbour, a symbolic location at the threshold between Helsinki’s historic center and its maritime setting. The surrounding landmarks include Alvar Aalto’s iconic Sugar Cube, the city’s Orthodox and Lutheran cathedrals, and the Esplanade Park. The initiative is part of a regeneration strategy that seeks to transform the harbor into a cultural and public district, supported by financial contributions from the Finnish government and the City of Helsinki.

When completed, the 10,050 square-meter building will provide a flexible and inclusive civic hub, from exhibition galleries to a design library and open-access public terraces. The program will engage both local residents and international visitors, positioning the museum as a place to explore how architecture and design shape everyday life.

set to open in 2030

construction to begin in 2027, with opening in 2030

Central to the institution’s mission is the idea of ‘democratising the tools of design.’ Beyond showcasing objects, correspondence, models, and photographs from figures like Aino and Alvar Aalto, Eero Aarnio, Maija Isola, and Eliel and Eero Saarinen, the museum offers a platform for public learning. Exhibitions will address the role of design in contemporary global challenges. High-profile touring shows, educational workshops, and participatory programming will aim to make design skills accessible and relevant across social groups.

Sustainability was a key requirement of the competition brief, with Helsinki aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030. JKMM’s proposal incorporates climate-smart solutions and was praised for its ecological and social responsiveness. Every competition entry underwent a People Flow Analysis by KONE Finland, and public workshops with user groups shaped the evaluation process. According to the jury, Kumma demonstrates potential to serve as both a resilient and socially inclusive model for future museum architecture.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the opening planned for late 2030. As a future benchmark for sustainable, inclusive design, the new Museum of Architecture and Design is set to embody Finland’s global reputation for design excellence while offering Helsinki a new civic landmark at the edge of the Baltic.

the museum will unite Finland’s two major design institutions

the institution is designed to house a collection of more than 900,000 artifacts

JKMM’s entry stood out for its ability to integrate with the harbor cityscape while maintaining a clear civic presence

balancing monumentality with approachability

part of a regeneration strategy that seeks to transform the harbor

a cultural and public district

a place to explore how architecture and design shape everyday life

the museum offers a platform for public learning

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exhibitions will address the role of design in contemporary global challenges

JKMM’s proposal incorporates climate-smart solutions

site plan and facade | drawings courtesy of JKMM Architects

section and elevations

section and elevations

ground floor plan

 

first and second floor plans

project info:

name: Museum of Architecture and Design | @admuseo

architect: JKMM Architects | @jkmmarchitects

location: South Harbour, Helsinki, Finland

size: 10,050 square meters

collaborators: Akukon (acoustic/AV), Granlund (HVAC/energy), MIR (visualisation), Pentagon Design (service design), Ramboll Finland (structural, electrical, lighting, climate and carbon)