Museum of History and the Future

Turku, Finland

2024

Buildings · Culture & Leisure · Workplace

In 2024 the City of Turku held an open international competition to design a bold, visionary 'Museum of History and the Future' on a prominent waterfront site. This proposal was developed as an articulation of three ideas: to encourage public activity; highlight the importance of collective ecological responsibility; and demonstrate the continued relevance of craft to human expression.

Turku EXTERIOR 10 Denoised Beauty copy WEB

The site is a crucially important part of Turku’s maritime heritage and its regeneration is key to the city’s future. The Museum of History and the Future will add an intriguing and distinctively crafted new addition to the waterfront elevation of Linnanniemi while respecting the strong pre-existing elements of the skyline. Turku Castle will remain the undisputed landmark for the area.

A modern building with a wooden lattice exterior sits beside a calm river at sunset. In the background, there are other structures and trees. The sky is a warm gradient, transitioning from orange to blue.

A person stands in a spacious, modern room with wooden floors and a geometric ceiling. Large, interconnected white spheres float in the center. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the right reveal trees and a building outside.

A person stands in a large room facing a massive suspended satellite model with a white dish and intricate components. The room has dark paneled walls and a high ceiling, creating a dramatic and futuristic atmosphere.

A person wearing a jacket and hard hat stands inside a large, modern building with wooden floors. They are looking out through large glass windows at a tree growing in an enclosed courtyard. A metal staircase is visible to the left.

A person stands near a tall, abstract wooden sculpture in a modern, spacious room with large windows. Sunlight casts shadows on the wooden floor and walls, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

A person stands in a modern architectural space with large wooden beams and abundant natural light. One side has wooden panels with openings, and the other features large windows offering a view of trees. The floor and ceiling are also wooden.

A modern boat house interior with a wooden ceiling and walls, featuring four wooden rowboats lined up on the wooden floor. Sunlight filters through vents on the right, casting shadows across the boats and floor.

Spacious, modern hallway with large glass windows and wooden floors, featuring plants outside. A person in a hat and casual clothing walks through the area. Ceiling has a grid-like pattern. Sunlight pours in, casting soft shadows.

To facilitate public engagement the main exhibition floor is elevated above the riverside, enabling exceptional openness at ground and roof levels. This openness facilitates a reading of the occupation of the building and the waterfront history of the site. The ground floor is open to the park, the riverside and the new masterplan to create a covered plaza, a subtly elevated surface containing the public functions of the building, including an auditorium that can be opened to the riverside.

A modern building with a large glass entrance and wooden cross-beams stands under a cloudy sky. The architecture features an angular, open design with several people visible in the courtyard. Bare trees are in the background.

The importance of ecology as a fundamental premise of the Museum of History and the Future is reflected in the arrangement of pocket gardens throughout the plan. Fragments of nature are brought into the building with pocket gardens in the ground floor plaza projecting upwards - piercing the exhibition level - and connecting with an extensive rooftop park. These ecological microcosms are permanent exhibits that can be exposed or closed off – presenting the opportunity for intriguing counterpoints to the main or temporary exhibitions.

Modern wooden structure with cross-beamed supports is set in a snowy landscape. A person stands near a tree, gazing at the building. Large rocks and a body of water are visible in the background, under a soft, cloudy sky.

Architectural line drawing of a modern building with large windows and trees integrated into the design. The structure features several rectangular sections and a multi-level roof. Minimalistic landscaping is shown around the building.

With distinctive ‘crossed columns’ supporting the timber exhibition volume and a wide oversailing perimeter roof, the architectural and structural approach of the building is exhibited throughout the building. Drawing on techniques from traditional warehouse construction, wooden boatbuilding and the latest in CNC timber engineering alike, the detailed design of this proposal relies on craftsmanship, timber detailing and fabrication technology from across human history and still in development today.