Guggenheim Museum

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation sought a design for a waterfront Guggenheim Museum with a year-round focus on culture and entertainment that serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors.

The foundation of our design begins by creating an integrated pedestrian connection between South Harbor and Tahtitornin Park. This landscaped surface extends the natural beauty of the park fabric across Etelaranta Street and down to the waterfront. The journey from hillside to harbor front actually penetrates the structure, blurring the boundaries between the public space of the city and the private space of the museum.

Turning the traditional layout of a museum inside out, the Guggenheim Helsinki provides visitors with an experience that alternates between interior and exterior spaces. The interior of the main exhibition hall can be viewed from the pathway outside as one circulates around the large architectonic form. From there, the design comes alive and unfurls into several natural gathering spaces where museum visitors can enjoy vistas where the city meets the water.