Construction work at the site of Helsinki’s new Museum of Architecture and Design will commence in August with the renovation of the upcoming museum’s building spot, the Makasiini Quay.
At the beginning of August, the City of Helsinki will commence construction work at the area between the Old Market Hall and Olympia terminal which will eventually become the building spot for the new Museum of Architecture and Design. The renovation of the Makasiini Quay will mark the first phase of the Makasiinranta area’s overhaul.
The goal is to turn Makasiininranta into a cozy public space which integrates seamlessly into the city’s seaside trail between Helsinki Market Square and Kaivopuisto. Besides the new building for the Museum of Architecture and Design, the area will see the construction of the Saaret project which consists of four separate buildings with facilities for hotel operations, offices and business spaces.
The winner of the internationally noted design competition for the Museum of Architecture and Design will be revealed on 11 September. The goal is to create a museum of architecture and design that meets international standards while serving as both a travel destination and a national responsibility museum.
Currently, Makasiininranta serves as a traffic terminal area for the harbour and as a parking lot. Its development will be enabled by the decreasing harbour operations within the area. In the future, regular passenger- and ferryboat traffic will be concentrated to West Harbour and Katajanokka. Piers for visiting cruise ships will be left in place at Olympiaranta.
The goal of the renovation project is to reinforce Makasiini Quay’s seawall and stabilise the soil underneath. The Makasiini Quay renovation project will be completed by October 2026. Situated north of Makasiini Quay, the renovation of Pakkahuone Quay is estimated to begin in October 2025 and be finished by spring 2027. According to the preliminary schedule, the preliminary construction of the area and its streets should commence at the beginning of 2027. The construction of the Museum of Architecture and Design and the first phase of the Saaret project will be completed by the early 2030s.