Architecture competition

The international architecture competition is looking for a form for the Museum of History and the Future, located in the brownfield area in Linnanniemi, Turku Finland. The competition period was 4 September 2023–16 January 2024. The site of the future museum is unique in terms of its cultural history and cityscape. In the surroundings of the competition area, Turku Castle, River Aura, the Baltic Sea and the developing new Linnanniemi area offer a rewarding and at the same time demanding framework for a new building as part of a national cultural landscape.

The jury and experts

• Minna Arve, Turku City Mayor, chair of the competition jury
• Ulla Achrén, member of Turku City Board
• Alice Girs, member of Turku City Board
• Timo Hintsanen, planning director
• Paula Keskikastari, planning manager
• Anu Laitila, culture director
• Leevi Luoto, head of locality services
• Juhani Ruohonen, head of museum services
• Kimmo Suonpää, director of city building
• Mari Virtanen, architect

Architects SAFA Claudia Auer and Simo Paavilainen are SAFA's representatives in the jury.

The competition programme is published on this website. 

The latest versions of the competition entries have been updated to the competition gallery

A technical glitch has been identified in the creation of the public gallery for submissions to the architecture competition of the Museum of History and the Future. Specifically, entries that had previously been uploaded and subsequently updated on the final day of the competition, January 16th, did not have their latest versions included in the online gallery published on March 13th. This technical issue does not impact the evaluation of the submissions; the jury will assess the latest versions during their deliberation. The provider of the competition system has reviewed the materials and made updates to the public gallery, accessible through the Kerrokantasi service.

Competition seminar

An open seminar in English of the architecture competition was held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in Turku Castle. A link to the recording of the seminar can be found below. Subtitles in English and Finnish.

• To the recording of the seminar (opens in YouTube)

Seminar content

• Welcoming words, Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku and Chair of the competition jury
• Content and objectives of the competition, Timo Hintsanen, Director of urban planning, City of Turku
• Plan situation of the competition area and the surrounding environment, Paula Keskikastari, City planning manager, City of Turku
• Assessment Judging criteria for the competition, Claudia Auer, architect SAFA, Member of the jury appointed by the Finnish Architects' Association of Architects
• Museum concept and facilities, Ville-Matti Rautjoki, Project Manager, Museum of History and the Future, City of Turku

Location Linnanniemi

The museum will be located in Linnanniemi, the tip of the Turku cape near medieval Turku Castle, as part of the maritime environment on the banks of River Aurajoki.

The aim of the competition is to obtain a building of a high architectural standard for the realisation of the museum, in which aesthetic, functional and technical-economic solutions as well as sustainable development objectives have been solved in a balanced way, considering the history and environment of the location. The approximately 7,000 m² museum building will be built as an alliance project. The aim is to complete the building in 2029.

Join us in planning the future of Turku! 

The new museum will be located on the tip of the Turku cape. Image: After Party & SHY.

An oasis for the citizens and a major tourist attraction

Turku, the oldest city in Finland, will celebrate its 800th anniversary in 2029. The new museum will tell the stories of the city and its residents while providing tools for the path to a sustainable future.

The Museum of History and the Future will combine the latest technology with reflecting on the stories of history and the possibilities of the future. The museum is not only a place for learning and experiencing, but also a communal and inspirational space and a cultural landmark for the area. The principles guiding the planning and future activities of the museum are multi-channel, multi-voice, diversity, ecology, vitality, and impact.

The developing Linnanniemi and the historically significant Turku Castle are the defining factors of the exciting location for the new museum. Linnanniemi, which currently serves as a port operations area, will be heavily developed over the coming years, and housing, commercial premises and public space will be built in the area. The area will become the first art district in Turku. The Museum of History and the Future will be the first new building to be completed in the area. 

The Museum of History and the Future will sit next to one of the current terminals, framed by the mouth of River Aurajoki, Turku Castle and the sea. Photography: Heikki Räisänen / Turku City Museum.