A New Cultural Landmark on Helsinki's Waterfront

The new Museum of Architecture and Design Helsinki was designed through an international design competition. The winning proposal, selected from 624 entries, was submitted by the Helsinki-based architectural practice JKMM Architects, internationally recognised for its cultural buildings. Bold, user-centered, and environmentally conscious, the building respects the cultural landscape of Helsinki’s South Harbour and introduces a new, recognisable landmark to the area.

A First Look at the Museum’s New Home

The new Museum of Architecture and Design will be built at Makasiiniranta in Helsinki’s South Harbour. The museum as seen from Market Square. Visualisation: JKMM Architects / MIR

The museum’s new home will make it possible to host a wide range of exhibitions and events. In these visualisations, the interior spaces are still shown as unfinished and are currently being developed. Images: JKMM Architects / MIR

The Museum of Architecture and Design will become part of a vibrant public waterfront and the southern waterfront route. Rendering: JKMM Architects.

1. The museum building comes into view at the end of Eteläinen Makasiinikatu. 2. The triangular window frames a view of Helsinki Cathedral. Visualisations: JKMM Architects / MIR and JKMM Architects.

International Design Competition

An international design competition was held for the new museum building, with 624 proposals accepted. From these, the jury selected five finalists. The competition culminated in the announcement of the results on September 11, 2025.

The winner of the competition was JKMM Architects, a Finnish architectural practice renowned for its museum architecture, with their proposal “Kumma.” The two-stage competition was anonymous, meaning the authors of the proposals were not known until after the winner had been chosen.

The principal designer for the new museum building is architect Samuli Miettinen. In addition to the founding partners of JKMM Architects, the competition team also included architect Samuli Summanen.

The project is now entering its next phase, during which the design will be further developed in collaboration with the museum’s diverse user groups and experts in sustainable construction. The aim is for the new museum to open to the public in 2030.

“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. 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”, states Samuli Miettinen, founding partner and principal designer at JKMM Architects.

Main image: Visualisation showing the view from the museum terrace towards Market Square. Image: JKMM Architects / MIR.

JKMM Architects

JKMM Architects is one of Finland’s leading architecture practices, responsible for internationally celebrated projects including the Amos Rex art museum in Helsinki, Tammela Stadium in Tampere, University of the Arts Helsinki, Dance House Helsinki and Finland’s contribution to Expo 2020 Dubai. The practice is currently working on an Annexe to the National Museum of Finland, also in Helsinki, due to open in 2027, and an annexe to the Lillehammer Art Museum in Norway. JKMM Architects was founded by Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä in 1998. The practice has twice been a recipient of the Finlandia Prize, the highest annual award for Architecture in Finland.

The museum’s new home will enable a wide range of exhibitions and events. The interior spaces shown in these visualisations are still preliminary and will be further developed as the project progresses. Images: JKMM Architects / MIR.