The State of Finland and City of Helsinki have established a foundation for the new Museum of Architecture and Design. The nine members appointed to the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design have broad expertise in financing, asset management, law, investments, activities of foundations, fields of design and architecture and work done by museums.

The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design was established in Helsinki on 28 April 2022. The Charter of the Foundation was signed by Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen, Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture Anita Lehikoinen and City Manager of Helsinki Sami Sarvilinna.

The mission of the Foundation is to establish a new Museum of Architecture and Design of a high international standard. The new museum building will be located in Helsinki South Harbour. The Foundation is responsible for the fundraising for the museum and manages the museum’s capital. Once the work on setting up the new museum has been completed, the present Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum and their collections will merge into the Foundation that was now set up.

‍Timo Laitinen, Director General of the State Treasury, was appointed as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design. He has also chaired the steering group of the museum project since spring 2021.

The members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation are Architect (SAFA) Mikko Aho, Managing Director of Föreningen Konstsamfundet Stefan Björkman, Board Professional Anne Korkiakoski, Architect (SAFA) Juha Lemström, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Leena Mörttinen, Chief Design Officer of Bang & Olufsen Miklu Silvanto, Director of the Serlachius Museums Pauli Sivonen and Professor of Strategic Design of the Aalto University Anna Valtonen.

<quote-mark>"<quote-mark><small-quote>I am very glad that the Museum of Architecture and Design has now taken a major step forward. The progress of this museum project creates faith in a better future and in culture as a resource that invigorates and reforms society.<small-quote><quote-author>Antti Kurvinen, Minister of Science and Culture<quote-author>

<quote-mark>"<quote-mark><small-quote>Our aim is to build the world’s best Museum of Architecture and Design that inspires to look at the world in a new way. This museum project will make Helsinki even more attractive internationally, and I am extremely happy that the project is now proceeding as planned.<small-quote><quote-author>Juhana Vartiainen, Mayor of Helsinki<quote-author>

<quote-mark>"<quote-mark><small-quote>It is a great honour to start leading this historical project. With the group of experts appointed to the Board of Directors of the Foundation we wish to create the best possible conditions for the museum to operate in the future in a way that is economically, ecologically and culturally sustainable. The world is changing fast and it encourages us to seek bold and responsible solutions.<small-quote><quote-author>Timo Laitinen, Chair of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design<quote-author>

Aim to create a visionary museum of the future

The new building planned for the museum would be located in the South Harbour of Helsinki as part of the more extensive development project concerning Makasiiniranta. An international quality and concept contest is currently underway on developing the area. In this contest a site will be reserved for the museum, but it does not include the design of the museum building, for which a separate architecture contest will be organised in due course.

During the year 2022, an international advisor group will be formed to participate in the planning process. The advisor group aims to support the high level of ambition in the project concerning the international role and relevance of the new museum. A multidisciplinary group of international experts in the areas of culture, digitalization, and various fields of design, will be invited as advisors.