GUGGENHEIM HELSINKI MUSEUM
International design competition for a proposed Guggenheim Museum Helsinki, Finland.
The formal strength of our project has its origin in a radical and clear functional proposal. The structure required for the development of the building is so clear and powerful that it configures the space of the museum. The two huge beams from where the museum hangs along with the three vertical supports define the itineraries of the interior. The language we use is very recognizable: pure volumes are made up of in-situ concrete, Finnish birch wood and glass, constituting a familiar image in the Helsinkian landscape.
We could describe the project, schematically, as three passable platforms tied by a huge transparent glass prism that drills into the concrete. This cube works as a landmark, glowing in the dark and with hanging sculptures, it indicates the access point.
We understand that architecture must involve nature, fusing into a unique entity where the limits of the construction are erased by trees and by the sea. We also recover the idea that Aalto and Utzon brought from southern Europe of organizing space around patios which bathe the interior in natural light while reinserting nature into the building.
The museum not only accomplishes all the requirements requested, but also it guarantees an ideal adjustment to the purpose in the future. The materials used have proved to work perfectly in Finland and, together with the employment of cutting-edge technology for the museum’s climate, lighting and maintenance, we can ensure an optimal and long-lasting response.
