Competition Background and Timeline 

2017 The Finnish government and the City of Helsinki initiate discussions to address the spatial needs of the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum. After preliminary consultations, the project moves forward under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Helsinki, in cooperation with the foundations for the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum.  

2018 A working group is appointed by the Finnish government and the City of Helsinki to explore the spatial needs of the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum. A report titled World-Class Museum of Architecture and Design to be Established in Helsinki is presented to Minister Sampo Terho and Mayor Jan Vapaavuori on August 21. Compiled by Tuomas Auvinen, Mirkku Kullberg, and Ulla Teräs, the report strongly recommends the founding of a new world-class museum in Helsinki.  

2019 The Ministry of Education and Culture and the City of Helsinki launch a follow-up study on the museum’s realisation. As part of this study, the City surveys potential locations and decides to pursue the broader development of the Makasiiniranta harbourfront, selecting the South Harbour (Eteläranta) as the future site of the museum. This prominent and prestigious location is a key part of Helsinki’s maritime townscape and home to two architectural landmarks completed for the 1952 Summer Olympics: the Palace Hotel (also known as the Industrial Centre) and the Olympic Terminal.  

2019 Following the recommendations of the follow-up study, the City of Helsinki and the Finnish government agree on a preliminary implementation model for a new museum in the South Harbour area. An international architectural competition will select the building’s design. A new foundation—combining the foundations for the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum—is to be established with capital of at least €150 million: €60 million each from the City and the government, plus €30 million to be raised by the foundation itself. The return on this capital is intended to fund the museum’s operations in its new building. The final implementation model for the new building will be confirmed once the new museum foundation is officially formed. 

12/2020 In its fourth supplementary budget proposal for 2020, the Finnish government commits up to €60 million to capitalise the new museum foundation. This state funding is conditional on the City of Helsinki providing matching capital. 

03/2021 The City of Helsinki and the Finnish government officially launch the project to establish a new museum of architecture and design. A steering group is appointed, chaired by Timo Laitinen, Director General of the State Treasury, with Kaarina Gould as Project Director. In addition to the preliminary funding commitments from the City and the government, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland announce their provisional donation decisions. 

05/2021 The City of Helsinki launches a quality and concept competition to identify a development partner for the Makasiiniranta harbourfront site in the South Harbour. While the new museum building itself is not part of the competition, the broader Makasiiniranta area will be developed both as the future home of the new architecture and design museum and as a key part of a new pedestrian-friendly urban hub and seaside walking route along Helsinki’s shoreline. 

04/2022 The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design is formally established by the Finnish government and the City of Helsinki. The foundation’s charter is signed by Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen and Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen. Its mission is to establish a world-class museum, serving as Finland’s national museum of design and architecture. 

08/2022 The City of Helsinki and the Finnish government establish the Real Estate Company ADM to oversee the construction of the new museum. 

11/2022 The City of Helsinki announces the results of the Makasiiniranta quality and concept competition. The winning proposal, ‘Saaret’ (‘Islands’), is submitted by Konsortium Gran (NIAM, K2S Architects, and White Arkitekter). The plan envisions four new buildings for service and commercial use, and transforms the shoreline into an inviting, publicly accessible boulevard. It allocates the site between the Old Market Hall and the new constructions for the future architecture and design museum. 

2023 The new foundation and real estate company oversee the museum’s implementation plan, financing, organisation, and preparations for the design competition, in cooperation with the City of Helsinki, the Finnish government, other financiers, and the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum. 

01/2024 The Foundation for the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum Foundation merge into a single entity.  

01/2024 The report The Museum of Future Building – Implementation Plan for the New Museum of Architecture and Design is published to support the decision-making regarding the museum and to serve as a roadmap for its implementation. It outlines the vision for the new museum and details the steps for its realisation. 

02/2024 The Helsinki City Council decides to allocate €60 million in funding to the Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Foundation. Together with the Finnish government’s earlier provisional funding pledge, this finalises the shared commitment to build a new museum of architecture and design in Helsinki. 

04/2024 An open, two-stage international design competition is officially launched to design the new museum building. The museum and the surrounding harbourfront development are poised to transform Helsinki’s maritime cityscape and enliven the South Harbour. The competition seeks a world-class museum design that offers an inspiring visitor experience while respecting the culturally and historically significant urban landscape of the South Harbour and creating an inviting, appealing urban space around it. 

08/2024 The first stage of the design competition comes to a close. 

09/2024 The 624 proposals accepted for the first stage of the competition are made available for public viewing in an online gallery. 

09–12/2024 A jury of Finnish and international experts evaluate the proposals. 

10/2024 The jury shortlists proposals, which are then submitted for review by experts across a range of fields. Appraisals are gathered from specialists in museum operations, urban culture, customer experience, museum logistics, transport planning, technical feasibility, and sustainable construction. 

12/2024 The five proposals selected for the second stage of the competition are made public. Helsinki residents are invited to share their feedback on the finalists via the City of Helsinki’s Kerro kantasi (Voice Your Opinion) platform over a one-month period. All comments are forwarded to the design teams for their consideration. 

12/2024–01/2025 More than 100 experts take part in workshops and discussions to give feedback on the finalist proposals and compile suggestions for improvement. Each finalist receives a comprehensive summary of recommendations for further development. 

02/2025 The second stage of the competition is launched. The five shortlisted teams travel to Helsinki to take part in expert meetings and workshops, where they have the opportunity to discuss their proposals with museum professionals. To our knowledge, no participatory process of this scale has ever been undertaken as part of an open architectural competition. Members of the jury, client representatives, and the Architecture & Design Museum organisation do not participate in the workshops to ensure competition anonymity. 

06/2025 The second stage of the competition concludes. The five finalist teams submit their refined proposals, which are available for public viewing on the City of Helsinki’s Kerro kantasi (Voice Your Opinion) service for over a month. During this time, the public is invited to share comments, which are forwarded to the jury for consideration. 

06–09/2025: The jury evaluates the proposals, consulting a wide range of experts on issues such as functionality, feasibility, and carbon footprint. 

09/2025 The results of the design competition are announced.  

10/2025 Further refinement of the winning proposal begins, while zoning of the harbourfront continues. 

(2027) Construction of the museum commences in Helsinki’s South Harbour. Preliminary works in the area are already underway. 

(2030) The long-awaited new museum building finally opens its doors. Welcome!