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 Steven Holl Architects

KIASMA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Helsinki, Finland. 1998

Description +

PROGRAM: art museum including galleries, theater, cafe, shop, artist workshop

CLIENT: Finnish Ministry of Public Building

SIZE: 130,000 sq ft

STATUS: Complete

The Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Art provides a variety of spatial experiences. We considered the range of contemporary artwork, and tried to anticipate the needs of a variety of artists including those whose works depend on a quiet atmosphere to bring out their full intensity. An exhibition space that works for an expressive and unpredictable artist such as Vito Acconci, must also work for artist such as Agnes Martin and Richard Tuttle. The general character of the rooms, which are almost rectangular with one wall curved, allows for a silent yet dramatic backdrop for the exhibition of contemporary art. These rooms are meant to be silent, but not static; they are differentiated through their irregularity.

The concept of Kiasma involves the building’s mass intertwining with the geometry of the city and landscape which are reflected in the shape of the building. An implicit cultural line curves to link the building to Finlandia Hall while it also engages a “natural line” connecting to the back landscape and Töölö Bay. In the landscape plan, extending the bay up to the building will provide an area for future civic development along this tapering body of water, which also serves as a reflecting pool for Finlandia Hall and new development along the south edge of the water. The horizontal light of northern latitudes is enhanced by a waterscape that would serve as an urban mirror, thereby linking the museum to Helsinki’s Töölö heart, which on a clear day, in Aalto’s word’s, “extends to Lapland.” The changes in elevation proposed with the water extension and it shallow depth would allow for parking decks and/or highway linkages which are presently part of various planning considerations.

Ecological Innovation +

Reflecting pool featuring recirculating water system
Natural light to all spaces

Videos +

  • Intertwining - A Conversation About Kiasma

Credits +

  • architect

    - Steven Holl Architects

    Steven Holl (design architect)

    Vesa Honkonen (project architect)

    Tim Bade, Molly Blieden, Stephen Cassell, Pablo Castro-Estevez, Janet Cross, Justin Korhammer, Anderson Lee, Chris McVoy, Anna Müller, Justin Rüssli, Tomoaki Tanaka, Bradford Kelley, Tapani Talo (project team)

  • local architect

    - Juhani Pallasmaa Architects

    Juhani Pallasmaa (principal architect)

    Timo Kiukkola (project architect)

    Seppo Mäntylä, Heikki Määttänen, Timo Ruusuvuori, Seppo Sivula, Merita Soini (project team)

  • structural engineer

    - Insinööritoimisto OY Matti Ollila & Co.

    - Ove Arup

  • HVAC engineer

    - Insinööritoimisto Olof Granlund OY

  • electrical engineer

    - Tauno Nissinen OY Consulting Engineering

  • mechanical engineer

    - Ove Arup

  • lighting consultant

    - L'Observatoire International

  • fire technical consultant

    - Markku Kauriala Ltd

  • glass consultant

    - Engineering Office Aulis Bertin, Ltd

  • theater technical consultant

    - Teatek

  • acoustical consultant

    - Arkkitehtitoimisto Alpo Halme

  • general contractor

    - Seicon OY

News +

Awards +

  • 1998 National AIA Design Award
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