GH-774434149901/FROM THE CITY

Helsinki’s south harbor is the heart of its daily life with markets, parks, and port all convergeing. Placing a branch of a world renowned museum will enhance this dynamism. Our proposal creates an inclusionary facility that supports the local arts community and acts as a conduit to further social and cultural development.

Visitors to Helsinki experience the city through street grids which intersect various plazas and waterfronts creating visual corridors. The museum is situated to respect these, particularly from Helsinki Cathedral, Tahititornin Vuori Park, and the south harbor.

Footprint Elevate to cityscape

Shift to define space

Undercutto create entry

datum

The majority of the city establishes a fairly consistent rooftop datum, save a few historical, spiritual, and civic institutions. The museum was elevated to register on the skyline at the scale of these landmarks, but also remain sensitive to the immediate context. The corners of the museum rise slightly above the datum, creating unobstructed views of the harbor and city.

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Art plazaThe entire plaza is covered with works by local artists commissioned by the city, becoming a piece of art itself.

02/FOR THE ARTISTS

To foster the continued growth of the local arts community, a public plaza will serve as a gateway from the city and give local artists space to display their talents to a wider audience. The facility also includes additional program such as public workshops with artists, a library, and a children’s art day camp.

Facade glass blockFinland has long been known for its innovative glass production techniques. Using these highly skilled craftsmen as inspiration, the building façade is made from a custom designed glass block system. Utilizing both translucent and clear glazing in a variety of combinations, the glass block can create a wide range of lighting conditions on the interior of the building as well as create a crystalline surface facing the city.

local artist gallery + public workshop area

roof top terrace and scupture garden exhibition

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Vendors from the existing regional markets expand onto the plaza, combining with the museum design store to create a larger retail zone. A flexible black box space below as well as a variety of public program, art workshops, library, and cafe are all accessible directly from the plaza joining changing sesonal activites.

The port access road is situated along the western edge of the site to maintain flexibility for the future port terminal development, while minimizing its impact, and providing bicycle, handicap, and VIP routes. Space is provided on the north for car drop-off and taxi stand.

Visitors navigate through the galleries via a central atrium spanning all three floors. On the main gallery level, ceilings are lifted to the full height of the building creating unique spaces for display of large scale works, and a new perspective on the collection.

The restaurant is elevated to this level, providing unobstructed views into Tahititornin Vuori Park to the west.

At the top level the museum opens up to the roof garden where outdoor sculptures are displayed and views over the city can be enjoyed.

atrium

cafe zone

cafe zone

class room

mech

Tahititornin Vuori Park

Ground level/site

Second level

Third level

Roof levelSub level/siteContext

Market square

stock & offices coat check

multipurpose zone

mechanical

proposed area for future port terminal

tech office

green room

IT serversecurityoffice

groundsmaint.

loadingdock

crate storage

art storage

art shipping/recieving

crating/uncrating

art prep./conservation room

registrar, conserv.,storage.

trash restrooms

kitchen A

supply,furn. storage

stafflockers

stafflockers

custodialoffice

flexible black box space

control rm.

foyer

foyer

mechanical

restroom

restroom

art

ticketing & info

bag check zone

exhibition

exhibition

exhibition

exhibition

exhibition

atrium

mech

mech

mech

mech

marketing office

copy room

conferenceroom A

conferenceroom B

educationoffices

curatorial, exhibit andpublication offices

administrativeoffices

restroom

restroom

restroom

restroom

restaurant

kitchen B

restaurant

staff lounge

class room

class room

class room

car drop off

market zone

market zone

market zone

water feature/ ice skate & fountain

open tobelow

roof top terrace and scupture garden

staff parking

port parking

taxi stand

retail zone

cafe zone

foyer

class zone

backstagestorage

storage

local artist gallery + public workshop area

local artist gallery + public workshop area

local artist gallery + public workshop area

03/WITH THE PEOPLE

Market Square is the main entry to the city for visitors and the larger port area is prime for development as a marquee public space for the entire region. The plaza extends along the water to provide views and new zones for interaction while Tahititornin Vuori Park from the west is extended onto the site along the southern edge.

open tobelow

mech

GH-774434149904/SUSTAINABILITY

Respecting local craft traditions, the building becomes a showcase of locally sourced materials.

clear glass

translucent coating prevents direct sun light but allows natural light.

Native GardenAlong the South facade, continuing the adjacent park space into the site, a garden of native fauna serves as a natural light diffuser for the offices and public gathering spaces. In the summer, when the sun is at a higher angle and the trees are full of foliage, the canopy prevents direct light from entering the building, and in the winter when the sun is low and the day is short, light filters to the office interiors

Glass Facade A glass block system varies along the facade of the building. Opacity changes depending on the interior programmatic uses. Public spaces utilize mostly clear glazing patterns, while the upper galleries incorporate more translucent to diffuse, but still provide natural ambient light into the building. This new material, made in Finland, develops local industrial opportunities.

This translucent coating also presents opportunities in art display. Digital artists have a new platform to showcase their work, and projection are visible on both the interior and exterior, sharing the museums collections with the city.

Wood Interior Locally sourced and reclaimed timber is used extensively on the interior of the building, supporting and displaying the Finnish Timber industry.

Recycled MaterialsExterior plazas are constructed from recycled local material aggregates. Naturally occurring stone and metal scraps are combined with waste plastics and glass to create the base. Artists from the community contribute their skills to create an art filled landscape.

Diffused Natural Light On the roof surfaces, clerestory windows allow diffused light to filter into the galleries and restaurant on the upper floors.

Recycled Rain WaterPublic plaza made from porous, absorptive surfaces, mitigates run-off into the harbor. Combined with a roof rain water collection system, water from the entire site is gathered in a reclamation tank below the building.

Sustainability Criteria