The winner of the international design competition for the new Museum of Architecture and Design is Kumma by JKMM Architects

The international design competition for the new Museum of Architecture and Design to be built in Helsinki’s South Harbour has been decided. The winner of the two-stage competition is Kumma, a proposal designed by JKMM Architects.

The design competition was launched in spring 2024 and attracted significant international interest, receiving a total of 624 submissions from around the world in its first phase. All entries were evaluated anonymously by the jury, which selected five finalists to advance: City, Sky & Sea; Kumma; Moby; Tau; Tyrsky. The second phase, which began in February 2025, focused on the further development of the proposals. The finalists refined their designs based on feedback from the jury and experts, and local residents were also invited to share their views through the Kerrokantasi platform. The competition sought a design for a new museum building of approximately 10,000 m² to be constructed in Helsinki’s historic South Harbour. The objective of the project is to provide a world-class setting for international museum activities.

Kumma Captivated the Jury – JKMM Wins the Design Competition for the New Museum

The jury unanimously selected the proposal “Kumma” as the winner of the competition. The design was developed by Finnish JKMM Architects, with lead architect Samuli Miettinen. In addition to the firm’s founding partners, architect Samuli Summanen was part of the project team. The firm received a prize of €60,000 for their winning submission.

During the competition, the proposal was described as a compact and low-lying building, preserving views from Tähtitorninpuisto toward Kauppatori and Katajanokka. The design features slightly stepped, angled walls, with recurring triangular forms present in the façade, interior spaces, and main staircase. According to the presentation, the exhibition floor opens onto a large terrace facing the sea, which continues as an external gallery wrapping around the building.

The jury praised the proposal for its strong character, noting that the building achieves a commanding presence despite its low height. The museum’s architecture was expected to deliver visual impact and a “wow” effect, creating a striking silhouette. At the announcement event, the jury emphasized that the winning design is clear, timeless, and respectful of its urban surroundings, while also being inviting, encouraging passersby to peek inside the building.

“In addition to architectural and urban design objectives, the competition criteria emphasized addressing the future needs of museum operations, principles of environmentally responsible construction, and the ability of the museum to bring joy and inspiration to its users. In Kumma, the jury saw clear potential to achieve all of these goals. For the Museum of Architecture and Design, it is crucial that the new building enables the museum to fulfill its societal mission: shaping our shared future through architecture and design. The conclusion of the competition now marks the beginning of the most important phase – developing the winning proposal into an implementable design. We also invite the museum’s audience to participate in this process.

It is truly a great pleasure to begin collaboration with the experienced and visionary team at JKMM Architects. Congratulations on the competition win to the designers, the museum, and all its future users! We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the designers of the finalist proposals,” says Kaarina Gould, CEO of the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Foundation.

In the competition final, five proposals were vying for the top prize. The second prize of €35,000 was awarded to the proposal City, Sky and Sea by the Portuguese-Belgian architectural firm Cossement Cardoso. The third prize, worth €25,000, went to the Swiss firm Lopes Brenna for their proposal Moby. The fourth place was awarded to the Finnish architectural collective for their proposal Tyrsky, with a prize of €20,000. In addition, the jury decided to purchase the French firm Atelier Orda’s proposal Tau, which received a €10,000 prize.

The founders of the new Museum of Architecture and Design are the Finnish state, the City of Helsinki, and the Museum of Architecture and Design. Founding partners include the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Svenska Kulturfonden, the Saastamoinen Foundation, and the 100th Anniversary Foundation of the Finnish Society of Crafts and Design.

The museum project is being implemented by ADM (Real Estate Company ADM), the City of Helsinki, the Finnish state, and the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Foundation, in collaboration with the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA).

The exhibition showcasing the competition will open at the Museum of Architecture and Design in October

On October 3, 2025, the Museum of Architecture and Design will open the exhibition “Torille!”, showcasing the results of the design competition. The exhibition offers the first glimpse of the future museum, including a virtual tour of the proposed building. All competition finalists are prominently featured through images and scale models. Visitors are invited to share ideas and provide feedback to help further develop the winning proposal. The exhibition will be on view until December 21, 2025.

In the image: the winning design of the competition, “Kumma,” viewed from above. Photo: JKMM Architects