At the heart of Helsinki’s South Harbour, a new national museum of architecture and design in Helsinki is set to rise after JKMM Architects secured victory in an international competition. Their winning concept, titled Kumma, stood out among more than 600 entries and was officially announced at Helsinki City Hall on Thursday.
The museum will take shape at Makasiinilaituri, a prime waterfront location once considered for the Guggenheim. Construction is expected to start in 2027 or 2028, with an opening projected for 2030. With an estimated floor area of 10,000 square metres and a budget of around 150 million euros, the project is backed by the City of Helsinki, the Finnish state, and private donors.
Kumma has been praised for its striking yet subtle profile. The low-rise form preserves open views across the harbour to iconic sites like Market Square, Katajanokka, and Tähtitorninmäki. Its bold design is expressed through sloped walls, angular lines, and repeated triangular motifs that run across the façade, interior spaces, and stairways.
The building’s most notable feature will be a wide terrace facing the sea. Designed as an outdoor gallery, the terrace wraps around the structure, offering a public space that blends seamlessly with the urban landscape. The competition jury described the design as clear and timeless, noting that its height is modest but its presence strong. Jury chair Mikko Aho remarked that the building respects its environment while establishing itself as a new landmark.
While the jury highlighted the need for further development before construction, Kumma was recognised for its strong potential. Adjustments will focus on accessibility and sustainable building solutions, ensuring the museum matches modern environmental standards. The materials proposed include cast-in-place concrete and recycled bricks, choices that were seen as both ambitious and technically demanding.
JKMM Architects is already known for shaping many of Finland’s most important cultural venues. Their work includes Amos Rex, the extension of the National Museum, and Dance House Helsinki. In 2023, they also earned the Finlandia Prize for Architecture for Tammela Stadium. Lead architect Samuli Miettinen described the South Harbour site as a national landscape and explained that the design grew from a love for the city. He emphasised that the museum is intended to be a human-scale social space, welcoming both experts and the wider public.
Miettinen even imagined the museum’s potential as a civic gathering place, suggesting that one day hockey fans might celebrate a championship at Kumma instead of at the Havis Amanda statue.
The design competition was held anonymously and drew entries from across Europe. The second prize went to the Portuguese-Belgian team Cossement Cardoso for City, Sky and Sea. Third place was awarded to Swiss studio Lopes Brenna for Moby. The Finnish collective VAPAA came fourth with Tyrsky, while the French studio Atelier Orda’s Tau proposal was also purchased by the jury.
Once the new museum opens, the current Design Museum building in Ullanlinna will be vacated, though its future use has not yet been decided.
