JKMM Architects has won the international competition for the new Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki. With their winning entry KUMMA, the Finnish practice led by Samuli Miettinen envisions an iconic and welcoming building that expresses Nordic design culture in a contemporary way.
A museum on Helsinki’s historic harbor
The museum will be built on a disused site at the South Harbour, adjacent to the city’s central market and close to landmarks such as Alvar Aalto’s Sugar Cube and the Orthodox and Lutheran cathedrals. The scheme includes a new 10,050 sqm volume that blends with the urban fabric while asserting a clear public identity.
The building will integrate architecture, landscape and community services, becoming a flexible, inclusive and accessible civic hub. The museum will host exhibition spaces, an archive with over 900,000 items, a design library, a public rooftop terrace, and international exhibitions of high caliber.
A cultural platform for the future
The museum’s mission is to "democratize the tools of design," making design culture more accessible and relevant to people’s lives and today’s challenges. Its curatorial program will include educational activities, workshops, and community-based initiatives developed through open dialogue with future users. During the design process, Helsinki’s Kerrokantasi platform was used for public consultations and co-design workshops.
Environmental, social and cultural sustainability
The project is conceived as a model for climate resilience and sustainable design, aligned with Helsinki’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. JKMM collaborated with experts in acoustics, building systems, lighting, carbon footprint evaluation, and climate adaptation strategies.
The selection followed an 18-month competitive process involving international studios. Finalists included Cossement Cardoso, Lopes Brenna, Atelier Orda, and a collective of Finnish architects.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the official opening scheduled for 2030. The new museum adds a meaningful chapter to Finland’s long-standing tradition of architectural innovation and design as a public good.
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Visualizations: ©JKMM and ©Mir
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