urban office architecture proposes the faceted helsinki guggenheim museum proposal

urban office architecture proposes the faceted helsinki guggenheim museum proposal
image © urban office architecture

the guggenheim museum heslinki proposal by new york-based studio urban office architecture revives the concept of a traditional courtyard design that allows a certain flexibility in exhibition space. by rotating the courtyard so as to face the city, the architecture acts as a framing element that integrates helsinki’s skyline as a backdrop to the interior and exterior installations. this system not only encourages a dynamic layering of exhibits but also provides an open exterior area that can be used to explore nordic designs enduring realistic weather conditions. a covered portion of the courtyard contains a stage used for events that require some protection from rain or sun, such as concerts. the architecture utilizes a faceted combination of forms as a recognizable structure in the city and serves to catch natural sunlight from various angles to provide uniform natural light to the galleries on the top floors.

wooden area serves as a partially covered exterior event space
image © urban office architecture

the interior continues the fragmented nature of the exterior facades, employing traditional nordic design elements to form a type of avant-garde vernacular-driven environment for displaying art. circulation is linear, but the possibilities to branch out and wander around the various cores through the spaces define a more organic path of discovery. from every gallery, the city and courtyard are perfectly framed, as well as specific nearby monuments.

view from the ocean
image © urban office architecture

faceted interior
image © urban office architecture

image © urban office architecture

image © urban office architecture

1/5