NORDICUM
Real Estate Annual Finland
State of the Art
Culture is firing on all cylinders in Helsinki. The pocket-sized
metropolis just added two world-class cultural attractions: the
new art museum Amos Rex and center library Oodi. Both heavy-
hitters offer ample proof that the Finnish capital is more than a
match to its Scandinavian counterparts in the culture department.
Amos Rex’s principle architect Aimo Jaaksi says that the
Nordic cities have all been busy building a formidable cultural
profile of late – and that Helsinki didn’t exactly dominate, being
locked into an endless debate whether to build a new Guggen-
heim or not. Now, with the new downtown dynamic duo, it’s safe
to say that Helsinki is back in the race.
Jaaksi also remarked that as there are more cultural desti-
nations, the entire ecosystem becomes that much stronger. This
means, for example, that international media starts to cover the
Helsinki cultural scene as a matter of routine, and not as an eccen-
tric anomaly. Also, as the citizens themselves have flocked to
these places in record-numbers, it seems clear that “the cultural
wave” is not a niché nuance.
Still, there may be more to come. A new report just came
out on the possibility of establishing a world-class Museum of
Architecture and Design in Helsinki. The report was produced
in collaboration by the Ministry of Education and Culture and
the City of Helsinki and it explores the merger of the Museum
of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum and the con-
struction of a new museum building in Helsinki.
The report was completed utilizing extensive interviews
with stakeholders and an international comparison. The report
finds that Finland “deserves” a Museum of Architecture and
Design that reflects the international significance of its archi-
tecture and design. Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori (see the inter-
view on pages 10–15) very much seconds this motion.
Why is the new “super design museum” such a must?
– Well, the report argues Finland has the opportunity to become
profiled around the world as a trendsetter for a totally new type
of Museum of Architecture and Design. It is possible to build a
museum concept, based on the strengths of the current museums,
that is highly ambitious by international standards, report states.
However, the creation of the new museum will require fast-
paced practical measures and decisions. The museums, the Min-
istry of Education and Culture and the City of Helsinki should
work in close collaboration to make this dream a reality.
And that Guggengeim? – We’ll just have to see.
Sami J. Anteroinen
Editor-at-Large
Publisher
PubliCo Oy
Pälkäneentie 19 A
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Finland
Phone +358 20 162 2200
[email protected]
www.publico.com
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Jussi Sinkko
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Liisa Hyvönen
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Paul Charpentier
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Cover Photo
Jetro Stavén
Printed by
PunaMusta, December 2018
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ISSN-L 1236-3839
ISSN 1236-3839 (Print)
ISSN 2242-9603 (Online)
www.nordicum.com
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