Helsinki Guggenheim

Through a seamless integration with adjacent infrastructure, the Helsinki Guggenheim museum is conceived not as an object, but as an outgrowth of its surroundings. Our proposal organizes most of the public components on a large raised deck, spanning over two long, parallel blocks on either side of a covered street leading to the port. Moving the port access to the space between the parallel blocks reduces the traffic next to the planned expanded sidewalk along Laivasillankatu boulevard, thus creating a more pleasant pedestrian experience.

The blocks, street and deck are all gently curved to follow Laivasillankatu boulevard. The east edge of this deck forms a promenade above the quayside with a view across the South Harbor. Ten sail-like skylights and a green-roofed dome peak up through the roof, offering visual interest from afar. In its horizontality and simplicity, the proposal evokes the surrounding industrial warehouse and terminal architecture of the South Harbor.