Turku Museum of History and the Future

Our proposal "Maininki" was awarded an honourable mention in an international architecture competition with 401 entries ↗. The museum is linked to the urban space by low eaves, from which the undulating roof rises to the heights of the surrounding apartment blocks. The architecture draws on both sculptural island nature and an intimate human scale. The undulating roof draws the silhouette of a public building, recognisable from afar. On the beach side, the museum descends to human scale. The colonnade protects the visitor walking along the waterfront and creates a safe, soft urban space. The proposal embraces a museum plaza in the evening sunshine, completing the chain of public spaces in the art district. The arrival is marked by a series of spaces created by the museum square and the colonnade, culminating in a spectacular central hall that permeates the building. Over the centuries, the historic area of Turku Castle Embankment has risen from the waters of the Aura River. The Museum of History and the Future draws on this symbolism and is like a wave raised on a cliff.