Guggenheim Museum, Helsinki FI, 2014

The 21st century art museum embraces public participation. In this perspective, a museum becomes a place between the institution and the citizens. The Guggenheim Helsinki museum is the programmatic and spatial result of urban life – the flows and focal points of public space, running through the museum area and connecting the surrounding areas. The URBAN SQUARE between the museum and the Market Hall is a gathering place for urban activities and events. From there one enters the inner courtyard, THE VOID, the central space for the diversity of public-private action taking place. It could be performances, sculpture, experimental structures, events – we keep this open. The place is constantly evolving through metamorphosis. We also propose moving the public pedestrian-cyclist connection to enter the museum courtyard. The flow continues also to the top of the building and to Tähtitorninmäki park. The result is a terrain of public gathering and interaction with the museum. One enters the museum only through the courtyard, emphasising the public character of the building. The entry hall opens to sea views and is a high space filled with ramps and staircase connected to each of the floors. This allows maximum flexibility in dividing the building into separate exhibitions and other types of activities. The exhibition spaces form a loop.

Client Guggenheim Foundation
Time 2014-2015
Team Antti Ahlava
Collaborators Arkitekturum and Sotamaa