JKMM wins international, open and anonymous design competition for Finland’s new Museum of Architecture and Design
JKMM Architects has won the international, open and anonymous design competition for Finland’s new Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki with its proposal Kumma. The competition sought a design for a new museum building of approximately 10,000 m² in the city’s historic South Harbour. The aim is to create a landmark waterfront museum and provide a setting for world-class cultural activities.
Launched in April 2024, the two-stage competition culminated with the announcement of the results at Helsinki City Hall on 11 September 2025. A total of 624 entries were submitted from across the globe, five of which advanced to the final stage.
The jury made a unanimous decision in selecting JKMM’s proposal. Kumma respects the cultural landscape of the South Harbour, preserving important views from Tähtitorninvuori towards the Market Square and Katajanokka, while establishing a clearly recognisable new landmark. Its recycled brick façade, surrounding terrace and sculptural architecture bring warmth and a strong connection to the city.
Samuli Miettinen, founding partner and principal designer at JKMM, emphasises the human and communal dimension of the museum:
“I hope that the planning and realization of the new Museum of Architecture and Design can show the way for how new things can be built responsibly and with skill. Architecture and design are deeply human – they are born from dreams and longing, and they gain their meaning in the places where we can experience and live together.”
In the final stage, Kumma was joined by strong international contenders. The second prize (€35,000) was awarded to Portuguese-Belgian office Cossement Cardoso for City, Sky and Sea. The third prize (€25,000) went to Swiss practice Lopes Brenna for Moby. The Finnish collective behind Tyrsky took fourth place (€20,000), and the jury also purchased the French office Atelier Orda’s proposal Tau (€10,000).
JKMM’s winning team also included Akukon (acoustic and AV design), Afry (geodesign), Bauhow (structural design), Granlund (HVAC engineering and energy calculation), MIR (visualisation), Pentagon Design (service design), and Ramboll Finland (carbon footprint calculation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, electrical and lighting design).
The next step will be to develop Kumma into an implementable plan together with future museum users and sustainability experts. Finland’s new Museum of Architecture and Design is planned to open in 2030 in Helsinki’s South Harbour – as a place that connects architecture, design, and people.
We warmly congratulate the winning team and all finalists.
Learn more about Kumma here.
More information about the museum project here.