Guggenheim Helsinki

General description

A PARTICIPATORY MUSEUM
The 21st century art museum embraces public participation. The emphasis in the production of art has earlier lied in the relationships between the artist and the subject of art or more recently, between the artist and the art institution. Comparably, our underlying concept of art emphasizes the relationship between art and the public. In this perspective, a museum becomes a place between the institution and the citizens.

AN URBAN PLATFORM
The Guggenheim Helsinki museum is the programmatic and spatial result of urban life - the flows and focal points of people using the public space, running through the museum area outdoors 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 of the museum. This is THE VOID, the central space for the diversity public-private action taking place here. It could be performances, sculpture, experimental structures, events – we keep this open. The place is constantly evolving through metamorphosis.
- From the void there is an
– The urban square is connected to Laivasillankatu through the void and we actually propose cutting the pedestrian-cyclist connection by the street at the place of the museum. This forces people to enter the museum courtyard. The flow continues also to the top of the building and to Tähtitorninmäki.
– From the viewpoint of public accessibility and connections, the result is a terrain of public gathering and action areas.

THE SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BUILDING
One enters the museum only through the courtyard. This emphasizes the public character of the building. The entry hall opens to the 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.

THE ENVELOPE
creates a wood-clad shell and an atmospheric interior space. The double skin creates an envelope, which is flexible in terms of use. The void (poche) between the two surfaces is occupied by technical systems and structures.