Teo Ala-Ruona’s Industry Muscle Emerges as a Biennale Highlight in Venice 

The Nordic Pavilion’s exhibition Industry Muscle: Five Scores for Architecture drew exceptional attention at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, held from 10 May to 23 November, 2025. A large majority of the Biennale’s 300,000 visitors passed through the pavilion, which also gained strong traction in international media. The exhibition was curated by architect Kaisa Karvinen. Performance artist Teo Ala-Ruona was invited as the commissioned artist, who assembled a multidisciplinary team to conceive and deliver the work.  

Industry Muscle Proposed Five Scores for the Future of Architecture  

The starting point for Industry Muscle was the Nordic Pavilion itself. The pavilion, designed by Sverre Fehn, was completed in 1962 and it is celebrated as a landmark of modernism. In his work, Teo Ala-Ruona examined the design premises typical of the period through a trans-bodily lens. These also included the standardised body image and the fossil-fuel culture embedded in modernist thinking. Through performance and installation, the exhibition encouraged audiences to look at the pavilion and the modern built environment in a new way.  

The exhibition was structured around five scores – Impurity, Decategorisation, Performance, Techno-body, and Reuse – each posing a provocation for the architecture of the future. At the heart of these scores was a key question: could the body serve as a catalyst for reimagining architecture in a time of ecological crisis?  

“Modern architecture surrounds us, and its value is widely acknowledged. But we cannot approach our environment as the architects of that era did. Modernism was grounded in a standardised conception of the body and the assumption of inexhaustible natural resources. Industry Muscle challenges these paradigms”, notes curator Kaisa Karvinen.  

Developed with an extensive artistic team, the exhibition featured sculptural works, video installations and large-scale typographic paintings across the pavilion’s glazed facades. During the Biennale’s opening days, three durational performances translated the work into the language of bodies, compelling visitors to pause amid the bustle of the Biennale. A companion essay, Bodytopian Architecture, provided further theoretical framing.  

Watch Teo Ala-Ruona’s video interview

Read essay

Visit the exhibition page

International Media Spotlight on a Standout Exhibition  

The Nordic Pavilion received wide attention in the international media, with coverage reaching a total of 186 million readers. The exhibition was featured in outlets such as ArchDaily, Dezeen, Domus, e-Flux, Frieze, Vogue Italia, Architect’s Journal, and Galerie, which named it one of the most compelling pavilions of the Biennale. Audiences and critics described the work as an intellectually challenging and emotionally resonant whole, as well as one of the boldest statements of the Biennale.  

Media coverage

During the Biennale’s opening days, three durational performances translated the work into the language of bodies. The dramaturgy of the performance was created by Teo Ala-Ruona and dramaturg Even Minn. The entire working group participated in the creation of the choreography. Performing: Romeo Roxman Gatt and Teo Ala-Ruona.

Each member of the working group contributed their own artistic input to the exhibition. The performance outfits were designed by fashion designer Ervin Latimer. Performing: Caroline Suinner. Photos: Venla Helenius.

Industry Muscle sculptures were created by scenographer and artist Teo Paaer. The soundscape was composed by sound artist Tuukka Haapakorpi. Performing: Kid Kokko (left), Caroline Suinner, Romeo Roxman Gatt and Teo Ala-Ruona. Photo: Venla Helenius.

The video works presented in the Industry Muscle exhibition were created by visual artist Venla Helenius. Romeo Roxman Gatt (left) and Kid Kokko perform. Photo: Venla Helenius.

The Industry Muscle Team  

The Industry Muscle exhibition was created by Teo Ala-Ruona together with architect A.L. Hu, scenographer and artist Teo Paaer, sound artist Tuukka Haapakorpi, dramaturg Even Minn, visual artist Venla Helenius, fashion designer Ervin Latimer, graphic designer Kiia Beilinson, and performers Kid Kokko, Caroline Suinner and Romeo Roxman Gatt. Each contributed a distinct artistic voice to the work.  

Learn more about Industry Muscle and the team

Teo Ala-Ruona and architect A.L. Hu’s essay Bodytopian Architecture provided the theoretical foundation for the work. The essay was available to read in the exhibition. Performing: Kid Kokko and Romeo Roxman Gatt. Photo: Venla Helenius.

Performing: Romeo Roxman Gatt (left), Teo Ala-Ruona (top), Caroline Suinner and Kid Kokko (bottom). Photo: Venla Helenius.

19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia  

The Venice Architecture Biennale is the world’s most influential platform for presenting contemporary architectural thought. The curator of the 19th edition, Italian architect, urban planner, engineer and researcher Carlo Ratti, invited participating countries to bring together diverse forms of intelligence to address the major challenges of our time. The Nordic Pavilion approached the main theme – Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.– through intimate, embodied experience.  

Industry Muscle sculptures were created by scenographer and artist Teo Paaer. Photo: Ugo Carmeni.

The car’s typographic paintings are the work of graphic designer Kiia Beilinson. Photo: Ugo Carmeni.

The Nordic Pavilion is located in a central spot in Venice’s Giardini park. The typographic window paintings that are part of the work Industry Muscle were created by graphic designer Kiia Beilinson. Photo: Ugo Carmeni.

Nordic Collaboration in the Nordic Pavilion  

The Nordic Pavilion is jointly owned by Finland, Norway and Sweden, with each country taking turns producing the exhibition. In 2025, production was led by the Finland’s Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki. The exhibition’s commissioner was Carina Jaatinen, working in collaboration with Karin Nilsson (ArkDes) and Yngvill Aagaard Sjöösten (National Museum of Norway). The curatorial team at the Architecture & Design Museum included curator Kaisa Karvinen and curatorial advisor Suvi Saloniemi. 

Upcoming: Juha Vehmaanperä’s knit art

Knit artist Juha Vehmaanperä’s first large-scale solo exhibition will open in February 2026 at the Architecture and Design Museum’s Gallery.

Juha Vehmaanperä is a knit artist based in Helsinki. Vehmaanperä’s work focuses on slow fashion, queer theory, and craftsmanship. They create projects that combine traditional handicraft techniques with modern approaches and technologies.

Vehmaanperä’s practice is characterized by a sense of community, the promotion of DIY culture, and the renewal of traditions.

Vehmaanperä holds a Master of Arts degree from Aalto University’s Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design program, and has worked as a teacher in several art and design schools, including Aalto University, Teho-Opisto, and the Helsinki Workers’ Institute.

Vehmaanperä’s work has gained wide international recognition: their pieces have been exhibited at the Hyères Fashion Festival in France, Dutch Design Week, Pitti Filati in Italy, New York Textile Month, and several other major design and art exhibitions across Europe. In addition, Vehmaanperä has worked as an intern in the knitwear team at Acne Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.

In November 2025, Vehmaanperä was awarded the Taito Finlandia Prize of the Year.

The exhibition presented at the Museum of Architecture and Design in 2026 is Vehmaanperä’s first large-scale solo exhibition. This immersive show brings together key works from recent years, material experiments, descriptions of working processes, and participatory community projects. The exhibition will open at the Architecture & Design Museum on 20 February 2026.

Photo: Mortti Saarnia

Saara Suojoki appointed Director of Communications and Brand at the Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki

Saara Suojoki has been appointed Director of Communications and Brand at the Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki. Suojoki will take up the position on 1st March 2026.

In this new role, Saara Suojoki will be responsible for developing the museum’s societal impact, brand communications, and the overall museum experience. The position has been created to strengthen both the domestic and international recognition of the Architecture & Design Museum as it transitions towards its new building, set to open in Helsinki’s South Harbour in 2030.

“The future of the Architecture & Design Museum is a societal mission for us. Suojoki’s vision for brand communications supports our goal of becoming an internationally unique museum well before the opening of our new building. They bring with her a strong experience and expertise in engaging diverse stakeholders around a shared vision and in building the museum’s impact holistically and sustainably,” says Museum Director Pilvi Kalhama.

Saara Suojoki is transferring to the museum from her position as the Development Director at EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art. Prior to this, she held senior marketing and communications positions at major museums in the Helsinki metropolitan area, including HAM Helsinki Art Museum from 2014 to 2017 and the Ateneum Art Museum from 2006 to 2014.

“I see the new Museum of Architecture and Design as a shared project of all Finns. It is inspiring to take part in creating a new kind of museum that speaks to everyone. My goal is to make the museum’s distinctiveness and uniqueness even more visible on the journey towards the new museum. By strengthening the meaningful museum experience, we will also support the museum’s growth and role in this time. Together, we will make the museum a phenomenon,” says Saara Suojoki.

The new Museum of Architecture and Design

The new Museum of Architecture and Design is expected to open in 2030 in Makasiiniranta, located in Helsinki’s South Harbour. The results of the anonymous international design competition for the museum building were announced in September 2025, with JKMM Architects, renowned for their museum architecture, selected as the winner. The new museum aims to provide a setting for world-class museum activities and to strengthen the role of architecture and design as integral parts of society.

Until the new museum is completed, the Architecture & Design Museum will continue to operate at Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Helsinki.

This autumn’s programme includes Winner! – an exhibition presenting the results of the design competition for the new museum – and Escape to Moominvalley, which explores in an unprecedented way Tove Jansson’s real-life environments in relation to the spaces of Moominvalley. Check out what’s on currently at: admuseo.fi/eng

Photo: Anni Koponen

Rethinking Architecture Through Trans Experience

Teo Ala-Ruona Selected as Artist for the Nordic Pavilion  

Back to the exhibition

Performance artist Teo Ala-Ruona and his team have been chosen to create the exhibition for the Nordic Pavilion at the Biennale Architettura 2025, commissioned by the Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki and curated by architect Kaisa Karvinen.  

The exhibition invites audiences to think about inclusivity and accessibility of the spaces we design and live in, while also exploring how this broader perspective can transform the way architecture is imagined and created.  

“Architecture reflects societal ideologies and thought. It impacts human bodies and their political realities,” says Teo Ala-Ruona.   

“My work addresses the sociopolitical pressures and impacts on bodies, particularly trans bodies. I am intrigued by how architecture, as an everyday environment, has influenced the ways we categorise things and each other,” Ala-Ruona continues.  

For the Biennale Architettura 2025, Ala-Ruona has assembled a multidisciplinary team including architect A.L. Hu, set designer and artist Teo Paaer, sound designer Tuukka Haapakorpi, dramaturge Even Minn, visual artist Venla Helenius, fashion designer Ervin Latimer, graphic designer Kiia Beilinson and performers Kid Kokko, Caroline Suinner, and Romeo Roxman Gatt.  

Based in Helsinki, Teo Ala-Ruona works across performance art, contemporary theatre, and choreography. His works have been featured at prominent venues such as the Performa Biennial in New York, Vilnius Performance Biennale, Kiasma Theatre, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in London.  

Ala-Ruona views everyday environments as stages that guide how people observe one another. The Nordic pavilion itself functions as such a space, subtly shaping ways of seeing and experiencing.  

According to Kaisa Karvinen, the curator of the Pavilion:  

“Teo Ala-Ruona’s piece challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the environment, history, and the future, offering new perspectives on the built world. The trans experience of architecture brings to light rules and structures that many people take for granted – in the same way that we each experience unconscious bias, our understanding of our agency in buildings and space are pre-conditioned by our culture and experiences. What excites me about Teo’s proposal is how he combines the methodologies of architecture and the performing arts. These two fields share much in common: they engage with materiality, the body, and space, while both also envision possible futures.” 

The 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, opens in May 2025 under the curatorship of Italian architect, urban planner, and researcher Carlo Ratti. Under Ratti’s guidance, the Biennale Architettura 2025 will explore different forms of intelligence and humanity during an era of redefined boundaries.   

The Nordic Pavilion is co-owned by Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with the responsibility for exhibitions rotating among the countries. The upcoming exhibition is produced by the Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki in collaboration with Sweden’s ArkDes and Norway’s National Museum. Carina Jaatinen serves as commissioner of the exhibition in cooperation with Karin Nilsson (ArkDes) and Yngvill Aagaard Sjöösten (the National museum of Norway). The curatorial team from the Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki includes curator Kaisa Karvinen and curatorial advisor Suvi Saloniemi.  

The Nordic Pavilion, designed by Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn in 1962, is centrally located in the Giardini park. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman

Artist Selection Process  

Teo Ala-Ruona was selected for the Nordic Pavilion through an invited selection process. The museum commissioned proposals from three artists who work with architecture or material environments, guided by the curator’s concept. An international advisory group reviewed the proposals, comprising Nick Axel (architect, editor, writer, and head of architecture at Gerrit Rietveld Academie and E-Flux Architecture), architect, curator and critic Eva Franch i Gilabert, and Panu Savolainen (assistant professor of architectural history and restoration at Aalto University).  

19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia  

 The International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia is the world’s most renowned platform for presenting architecture on an international stage. In 2025, the Architecture Biennale will be curated by Italian architect, urban planner, engineer, and researcher Carlo Ratti, under the theme Intelligence: Natural. Artificial. Collective. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia will be open to the public from 10 May to 23 November 2025.  

For more information, please contact: 

Carson Chan named Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs

Carson Chan is named the Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs of the new Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki, one of the most ambitious cultural projects in Finland’s recent history. Chan will provide a comprehensive intellectual vision for the museum and oversee the strategic planning, development, and implementation of the museum’s content-related programming, including exhibitions, collections, publications, diverse research initiatives, and audience engagement. Ahead of the museum’s opening in a new building in Helsinki’s South Harbour in 2030, Chan will begin his new roles in January 2026, as the museum continues to operate at its current premises at Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Helsinki.

“We aim to build a leading and inspiring museum for the creative industries in the Nordic context, with a cross-disciplinary and innovative approach. Carson Chan’s valuable expertise and visionary work as a bold explorer of new territories supports our museum’s ambitious goal to engage global and diverse audiences. I am truly delighted to welcome Carson to our dynamic team, bringing professionalism and insight that will help shape our journey toward the museum of the future,” describes Pilvi Kalhama, Director of the Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki, outlining the emphasis behind Chan’s appointment.

“The chance to tackle today’s social, ecological, and political challenges through architecture and design within a new institution is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. Building on Finland’s celebrated architecture and design legacy, I see the future museum as a global leader not just in showcasing these fields, but in actively shaping their evolution. It is an honor to join Pilvi in Helsinki to create a new kind of museum program, one driven by a spirit of urgency, a commitment to innovation, and a foundation of rigorous research. I am driven to expand the narrative of architecture and design, crafting inclusive new frameworks that will fundamentally shape contemporary culture.”

Chan comes to the new Museum of Architecture and Design from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City where he has served as the inaugural Director of the Emilio Ambasz Institute for the Joint Study of the Built and Natural Environment, and where he was also Curator of architecture and design since 2021. Chan was also a member of the museum’s sustainability task force, which leads an institution-wide effort to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Through a range of curatorial programs and research initiatives at MoMA, he championed dialogue and critical thinking around the built and natural environment. Chan used a multifaceted approach—including public programs, scholarly conferences, publications, and collaborations with MoMA’s learning and engagement team—to illuminate architecture’s historical foundations in ecology and justice for diverse audiences. His widely acclaimed exhibition at MoMA, Emerging Ecologies: Architecture and the Rise of Environmentalism (2023), crucially brought to attention the US architectural responses to the environmental crises of the 20th century.

Focused on a sustained inquiry into the boundaries of architecture and design, Carson Chan’s curatorial practice began with the co-founding of PROGRAM in Berlin with Fotini Lazaridou-Hatzigoga in 2006, an experimental project space and residency that fostered cross-disciplinary dialogue. This foundational work led to large-scale curatorial projects, including co-curating the 4th Marrakech Biennale (2012) with Nadim Samman, which featured 37 new commissions, and serving as Executive Curator of the Biennial of the Americas in Denver (2013). Across these platforms, Chan prompted creators to produce site-responsive works that grounded global discourses in local contexts.

Chan is a prolific writer whose work appears in publications such as Art Papers, Frieze, Log, Texte zur Kunst, and 032c, where he previously served as Editor-at-Large. He has contributed essays to monographs on artists and architects including Monica Bonvicini, Julian Charrière, Aleksandra Domanović, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Barkow Leibinger. Chan holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and a Masters in Design Studies from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His doctoral research at Princeton University focuses on the rise of environmentalism and the architecture of postwar public aquariums in the United States. In 2013, he co-convened the conference “Exhibiting Architecture: A Paradox?” at the Yale School of Architecture with David Andrew Tasman and Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen; the resulting papers were published by Actar in 2015.

Photo: Anni Koponen

Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Receives Major Donation from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation

The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation has made a donation of €1 million to the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design. The gift, which is the Wihuri Foundation’s largest single contribution this year, will be allocated to the museum’s endowment fund, the proceeds of which will enable ambitious activities in the Architecture & Design Museum ‘s new building, set to open in 2030.

Building on significant donations from the City of Helsinki and the Finnish government, the Foundation’s private capital target of €30 million has now reached €28 million.

“The Wihuri Foundation’s gift marks a significant step toward opening the new Museum of Architecture and Design. An early commitment to the project is a powerful expression of trust in the future and the value that design, architecture, and cultural institutions bring to our society. Our heartfelt thanks to the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation,” says Kaarina Gould, the CEO of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design.

A high level Advisory Group is established to advance the next fundraising milestone

The museum project’s fundraising and partnership efforts continue with the support of a new group of distinguished experts. The Fundraising Advisory Group is chaired by Kirsi Komi, and joined by Nathalie Ahlström, Tuomas Aho, Christina Dahlblom, Jussi Herlin, Sanna-Mari Jäntti, Petteri Karttunen, Laura Tarkka, and Ari Tolppanen as members.

The role of the advisory group is to identify collaboration opportunities and foster dialogue with potential partners and funders. In doing so, the group contributes to building a broad partnership ecosystem and ensures progress toward the project’s fundraising goals. The members of the advisory group have been invited by the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design.

“It’s a privilege to be part of building something this unique for Finland,” says Kirsi Komi, Chair of the Fundraising Advisory Group. “The new Museum of Architecture and Design is an investment that will create growth and value across our society. I see this project as one of the defining shared efforts of our decade – one that holds countless opportunities for collaboration for a broad range of businesses and organizations.”

The new Museum of Architecture and Design

The new Museum of Architecture and Design is expected to open in 2030 in Helsinki’s South Harbour’s Makasiininranta district. The results of the museum’s international design competition were announced in September 2025. The competition was won by the Finnish architecture practice JKMM Architects, renowned for its museum architecture, with its proposal “Kumma.”

The new home of the Architecture & Design Museum aims to provide a setting for world-class museum activities and to fulfill its social mission: to shape our shared future through architecture and design.

Both the City of Helsinki and the Government of Finland have committed €60 million each in capital donations to the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design, which is responsible for establishing the new museum. The project has also received generous support from several private foundations and funds.

The museum’s founding partners are the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Svenska kulturfonden, the Saastamoinen Foundation, the Centenary Foundation of the Finnish Society of Crafts and Design, and now, most recently, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.

Our warmest thanks to all founding partners for their donations, which make possible world-class operations in the new home of the Architecture & Design Museum.

Osallistu Helsinki Design Weekin ohjelmaan Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseossa

Pohjoismaiden suurin monialainen muotoilufestivaali Helsinki Design Week rantautuu jälleen kaupunkiin ja verkkoon. Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseossa on runsaasti ohjelmaa koko tapahtuman ajan. 

Voit tutustua museoiden festivaaliohjelmaan tällä sivulla. Tervetuloa mukaan!

Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseon tapahtumat 5.–14.9.2025

Lauantai 6.9.
klo 14 Kävelykierros: Historiallisen Helsingin arkkitehtuuri suomeksi
klo 16 Kävelykierros: Historiallisen Helsingin arkkitehtuuri englanniksi
klo 13 Yleisöopastus suomeksi D-talossa (Korkeavuorenkatu 23) 
klo 14 Yleisöopastus suomeksi A-talossa (Kasarmikatu 24) 

Tiistai 9.9.
klo 16–17:30 Luonnostelukurssi – alustajina Aalto+Aalto
klo 16.30–17.45 Verkkotapahtuma: Celebrating the Everyday
klo 17 Yleisöopastus suomeksi D-talossa (Korkeavuorenkatu 23) 
klo 18 Yleisöopastus suomeksi A-talossa (Kasarmikatu 24) 

Keskiviikko 10.9.
klo 17 Etäopastus Maija Lavosen näyttelyyn englanniksi
Office Pong, kutsulla (TBA)

Torstai 11.9.
klo 15 Kävelykierros: Modernin Helsingin arkkitehtuuri englanniksi
klo 17 Kävelykierros: Modernin Helsingin arkkitehtuuri suomeksi

Lauantai 13.9.
klo 14 Kävelykierros: 1970-luvun Vuosaaren arkkitehtuuri suomeksi
klo 15 Kudottu värikollaasi -työpaja suomeksi
klo 16 Kävelykierros: 1970-luvun Vuosaaren arkkitehtuuri englanniksi
klo 13 Yleisöopastus suomeksi D-talossa (Korkeavuorenkatu 23) 
klo 14 Yleisöopastus suomeksi A-talossa (Kasarmikatu 24) 

Tutustu tapahtumiin

Kävelykierros: Historiallisen Helsingin arkkitehtuuri
Lauantai 6.9. klo 14 suomeksi ja klo 16 englanniksi

Historiallinen Helsinki -arkkitehtuurikävelyllä kuullaan, mikä tekee Helsingistä kaupungin, joka se tänä päivänä on. Suomen historiaa, avainhenkilöitä sekä rakennusmateriaaleista ja -tekniikoita avaavan kävelyn aikana tutustumme Helsinkiä määrittäviin upeisiin rakennuksiin, jotka heijastavat kaupungin rikasta historiaa. Lisätiedot ja ilmoittautuminen tästä.

Yleisöopastukset Maija Lavonen – Hiljaisia monumentteja -näyttelyyn
Lauantai 6.9. klo 13 suomeksi
Tiistai 9.9. klo 17 suomeksi
Lauantai 13.9. klo 13 suomeksi

Opastus sisältyy museolipun hintaan.

Kuva: Anni koponen

Yleisöopastukset Marie-José Van Heen -näyttelyyn
Lauantai 6.9. klo 14 suomeksi
Tiistai 9.9. klo 18 suomeksi
Lauantai 13.9. klo 14 suomeksi

Opastus sisältyy museolipun hintaan.

Luonnostelukurssi Marie-José Van Heen hengessä – alustajina Aalto+Aalto
Tiistai 9.9. klo 16–17:30

Luonnostelukurssilla Marie-José Van Heen hengessä opit visualisoimaan ja kommunikoimaan arkkitehtuuria ja tilaa. Kurssi avaa luonnostelun mahdollisuuksia erilaisten harjoitusten kautta ja käsivarapiirustuksen työkaluja ja menetelmiä käyttäen. Kurssilla opit havainnointia, visuaalisten muistiinpanojen tekemistä ja tutustut erilaisten luonnostelutekniikoiden käyttöön. Lue lisää ja varaa paikkasi tästä.

Celebrating the Everyday – Marie-José Van Hee’s Architecture in Dialogue with Aalto
Tiistai 9. syyskuuta 2025 klo 16.30–17.45 (Suomen aikaa / EEST / UTC+3) Zoomissa

Tämä keskustelu tuo yhteen arkkitehdit Sam De Vochtin ja Sofia Nivartin tarkastelemaan, millaisia yhtymäkohtia löytyy tunnetun belgialaisarkkitehdin Marie-José Van Heen sekä Alvar, Aino ja Elissa Aallon työn välillä. Marie-José Van Hee sai arvostetun Alvar Aalto -mitalin vuonna 2024, mitalin 15. saajana. Lue lisää ja ilmoittaudu mukaan.

Etäopastus Maija Lavosen näyttelyyn
Keskiviikko 10.9. klo 17 englanniksi

Jos et syystä tai toisesta pääse museovierailulle paikan päälle Helsinkiin voit vierailla näyttelyssä etäopastuksellemme! Etäopastukset toteutetaan suorina lähetyksinä Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseon Facebook-tilillä kerran kuussa keskiviikkoisin. 

Kävelykierros: Modernin Helsingin arkkitehtuuri 
Torstai 11.9. klo 15 englanniksi klo 17 suomeksi

Arkkitehtuurikävelyllä tarkastellaan estetiikkaa, materiaaleja ja niitä yhteiskunnallisia olosuhteita, jotka muovasivat modernin arkkitehtuurin kehitystä Helsingissä 1930-luvulta vuoteen 2018. Kävelyn aikana tutustutaan keskustan kiehtoviin toimistorakennuksiin, tavarataloihin, koulutusrakennuksiin sekä muihin julkisiin rakennuksiin. Lue lisää ja ilmoittaudu mukaan.

Kävelykierros: 1970-luvun Vuosaaren arkkitehtuuri suomeksi
Lauantai 13.9. klo 14 suomeksi & klo 16 englanniksi

Helsingin suurin kaupunginosa Vuosaari on muuttunut arkkitehtuuriltaan ja kaupunkisuunnittelultaan vuosikymmenestä toiseen. Kävelykierroksella tutustutaan Vuosaaren arkkitehtuuriin ja lähiöön 1970-luvun näkökulmasta. Lue lisää ja ilmoittaudu mukaan.

Kudottu värikollaasi -työpaja
Lauantai 13.9. klo 15 suomeksi

Tule mukaan kutomaan omaa värikollaasi ammattilaisen ohjaamana – yksin tai kaverin kanssa! Kudottu värikollaasi -työpajassa opetellaan tekemään tekstiilikudelmaa herkullisen värillisillä langoilla. Työpajan aluksi tutustutaan lyhyesti näyttelyn kohokohtiin, jonka jälkeen siirrytään kudonnan pariin työpajatilaan. Ilmoittaudu mukaan tästä.

20241204 AD/ Arkkitehtuuri ja Designmuseo/ oyy/ Lavonen työpaja/ markkinointikuva kuva: Anni Koponen

Näyttelyt

Maija Lavonen – Hiljaisia monumentteja

Maija Lavonen (1931–2023) on Suomen merkittävimpiä suunnittelijoita ja kansainvälisesti tunnustettu tekstiilitaiteen uudistaja. Pitkän uransa aikana hän kehitti uusia tekniikoita, ravisteli ryijyperinnettä ja oli luomassa Suomeen tekstiilitaiteen kultakautta. Hän oli koko elämänsä edelläkävijä, joka vielä yli 80-vuotiaana loi ennennäkemätöntä valotaidetta optisista kuiduista.  

Marie-José Van Hee – Auringon maalaamia koteja

Näyttely kutsuu sisälle Etelä-Hollannissa sijaitsevaan taloon, jonka Van Hee on suunnitellut. Kodin oleskelutilat, kuten ruokailu- ja olohuone, keittiö ja kapea terassi – on rakennettu näyttelyyn niiden oikeassa mittakaavassa. Vastapainona kaupungin hälinälle, voit astua vähäeleisen tilan rauhaan. Näyttely on suunniteltu yhteistyössä itse Marie-José Van Heen kanssa, ja se esittelee myös muut hänen keskeiset kohteensa.

Näyttelylabra: Purkamatta paras

Purkamatta paras -näyttely haastaa pohtimaan vaihtoehtoja rakennusten purkamiselle.Suomessa puretaan tällä hetkellä vuosittain yhtä paljon rakennuksia kuin purkamisen huippuvuosina 1960–70-luvuilla. Tuolloin menetettiin esimerkiksi vuosisadan alun jugendtaloja ja kokonaisia puutaloalueita, joiden kohtaloa on nykynäkökulmasta vaikea käsittää. 2020-luvulla purku-uhan alle joutuvat yhä nuoremmat rakennukset. Erityisen paljon puretaan rakennuksia 1960- ja -70-luvuilta.  

Gayle McKeen’s Architecture Walks return to the museum’s summer programme

Come explore the historical layers of architecture in Helsinki! Chicago-based Gayle McKeen guides both locals and visitors through different areas of the city on architecture-themed walking tours.

Gayle McKeen is an experienced guide who holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago. She has taught at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. With a deep love for architecture and roots in Finland, McKeen has led hugely popular tours in Helsinki since 2017.

Schedule

Friday 25 July 2025 at 13:00–14:30
Architecture of Historical Helsinki

Saturday 26 July 2025 at 11:00–12:30
Architecture of Ullanlinna

Wednesday 13 August 2025 at 11:00–12:30
Architecture of Ullanlinna

Friday 15 August 2025 at 17:00–18:30
Modern Helsinki

Wednesday 27 August 2025 at 16:00–17:30
Architecture of Ullanlinna

Participation

A separate booking is required for each walk via our event platform. Tickets are paid for in advance through our online store and bookings are binding.

Please show the booking confirmation email to the guide before the tour begins.

Price: €15 / person
Duration: 90 minutes
Language: English

Architecture of Historical Helsinki

On this tour, you’ll discover what makes Helsinki the city it is today. As we explore remarkable buildings that reflect the city’s rich history, we’ll also dive into Finland’s past, its key figures, and the building materials and techniques that have shaped Helsinki.

The walk starts at the Architecture & Design Museum’s D-building (former Design Museum building, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, 00130 Helsinki) and ends at the Central Railway Station (Kaivokatu 1, 00100 Helsinki). Duration approx. 1 hour 30 minutes.

Book your spot here

Modern Helsinki

This tour looks at the aesthetics, materials, and social context that influenced the development of modern architecture in Helsinki from the 1930s to 2018. You’ll explore fascinating downtown buildings such as offices, department stores, schools, and other public institutions.

The walk starts at the Architecture & Design Museum’s D-building (former Design Museum building, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, 00130 Helsinki) and ends in the city center. Duration approx. 1 hour 30 minutes.

Book your spot here

Architecture of Ullanlinna

This walk focuses on the urban planning behind two of Helsinki’s most beautiful neighborhoods, known for their parks and colorful Art Nouveau residential buildings. The route leads to the scenic shoreline of Ullanlinna and continues into the Eira district.

The walk starts at the Architecture and Design Museum’s D-building (former Design Museum building, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, 00130 Helsinki) and ends at Eira Hospital (Laivurinkatu 29, 00150 Helsinki). Duration approx. 1 hour 30 minutes

Book your spot here

Press materials for Industry Muscle

Teo Ala-Ruona’s Industry Muscle: Five Scores for Architecture
Nordic Countries Pavilion 
19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 

The Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki will present an exhibition at the Nordic Pavilion for the 19th International Architecture exhibition La Biennale di Venezia. The Biennale will be open to the public from May 10 to November 23, 2025.

Inauguration: May 8, 2:30–3pm / Live performance: May 8, 3–5pm / Live performance: May 9, 3–5pm / Live performance: May 10, 3–5pm.

PRESS MATERIALS

Download press materials
Press release in English
Press release in Italian

Download press images
Press Images

Read the essay
Essay: Bodytopian Architecture

MEDIA CONTACTS

For further information and interviews about the Nordic Countries Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, please contact ING Media: Ben James | ben.james@ing-media.com | + 44 (0) 7534 970 728 

Official Trailer: Industry Muscle

Industry Muscle: Five Scores for Architecture continues Teo Ala-Ruona’s exploration of trans embodiment and ecology – now extending into the realm of architecture. Experience the exhibition at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice from May 10 to November 23, 2025 at the Nordic Countries Pavilion.

If the video doesn’t load properly, click here to watch the trailer.

The video was shot on location at a concrete factory in Helsinki, where the installation for the Venice exhibition was constructed using concrete, steel, and a sports car. In the video, we catch glimpses of the performance, featuring Teo Ala-Ruona, Kid Kokko, and Caroline Suinner. The video was produced by Cocoa and directed by Taito Kawata, whose previous work includes the Netflix series Dance Brothers.

The team

Director
Taito Kawata

Executive Producer
Ilona Malinen

Director of Photography
Tuomas Nurmi

Production Manager
Samuli Hilkamo

Production assistant
Gaffer Eemi Lehto

Light technician
Tiia Hyyryläinen

1st AC
Henrik Leppänen

MUAH
Emma Janhonen

Grip
Oskari Jokinen

Grip assistant
Pepe Uimonen

Set Design
Teo Paaer

Music & Sound
Akseli Soini / El Camino

Performers
Teo Ala-Ruona
Caroline Suinner
Kid Kokko

With special thanks to
Jan Tuomisto / Studio Lupara Oy
Angel Rentals / Roope Ruuska
Bongobongo / Joonas Saine
Vihdin Betoni Oy

Tuotantoyhtiö
Cocoa @wearecocoa

Petja Virikko / El Camino

VFX artist
Juho Lähdesmäki

Colorist
Joni Kuusisto