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The brief by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation seeks a visionary design for a proposed Guggenheim Museum in Helsinki, capital of Finland. Conceived from the intrinsic connection between the Nordic and Nature, Guggenheim Nord emerges from our arboriculture studies on the native Finnish Silver Birch. Its growing cycle involves the expansion of its outer layer, while the core – with no living cells – becomes its supporting structure. This core, structurally indispensable to the tree, exists devoid of life. We have applied this analogy to Eteläsatama; while indispensable to the city, it exists in a state of uncertainty; marginalized as Helsinki grows and evolves. The core of the building is a new public exhibition space; an open building for an open city. providing an infrastructure for Helsinki’s people, arts and education to thrive.

 

Our aim is to place Helsinki as the artistic and cultural hub of the future. Emerging from the urban fabric and the historical city grid, Guggenheim Nord articulates itself within the existing cityscape. With a bold yet respectful gesture, our intervention is based on a compressed footprint maximizing space for civic activities. A pedestrian walkway intersects our site linking all activities, re-establishing the connection between the park and the sea and the market and the park. Future connections to the Laivasiillamkatu promenade and Olympiaterminaali are considered. Our proposal is a universal playground for all ages.