Central idea

With a panoramic view of the prominent 'T' structure paralleling Turku Castle, faintly visible in the background, we approach the gateway to Turku—the confluence of the Aura River and the Archipelago Sea. Here stands the Museum of History and Future. It transcends the conventional notion of a museum, evolving into an urban social space.

The conceptual foundation is a "Tori of ideas," reflecting Turku's historical connection to the term 'tǔrgǔ,' an Old East Slavic word denoting a marketplace. Turku has earned recognition as one of Europe's premier cities, seamlessly integrating culture and cutting-edge technology while attracting a wealth of talented individuals. The proposed museum acts as a dynamic space for citizens and travelers, encouraging encounters, exploration, learning, idea exchange, and even debate. Departing from traditional museum norms, it promises a diverse and immersive experience for visitors.

Respecting Turku Castle and the city's urban fabric, the museum maintains a concise profile with careful height planning. The south-facing T-shaped entrance serves as a bold symbol, embodying the city's identity and alluding to the Finnish word 'tori' and the English word ‘time’.

This "Tori of ideas" is dedicated to our collective existence, fostering contemplation and reshaping our understanding of the world. Emphasizing the importance of the present moment becomes pivotal, facilitating a harmonious interplay between historical contexts and potential future trajectories.

Introduction of building layout

Within the spacious lobby, a circular digital screen broadcasts continuous global news updates. Users can interact with the screen, engaging in debates and reflecting on their personal histories and the future that awaits them. On specified days and holidays, the lobby transforms into a venue for individuals to showcase and sell various creative and cultural products, fostering a global exchange of accomplishments.

All exhibition halls are located on the second floor and connected through the lobby, allowing visitors to enter or exit from either side of the lobby. The special exhibition hall is situated on the north side of the second floor, providing a relatively independent space.

The restaurant is considered by the architect to become one of Turku's most distinctive social spaces in the future. It is located on the third floor and, with a T-shaped opening, offers views of the sea and the castle in the north and south directions. Additionally, on the east side, one can enjoy magnificent views of the estuary and the opposite bank.

Adaptability and flexibility

The museum, designed with a relatively regular structure, accommodates a variety of uses and allows for potential modifications as needed. This not only enhances the museum's functionality but also prolongs its lifespan, reducing the need for frequent renovations for new exhibitions and minimizing resource consumption. The spacious lobby, designed with versatility in mind, offers the potential for transformation into a shopping center in the future if necessary. The museum features two entrances: the "exhibition entrance" on the south and the "market entrance" on the west. This design allows people to access the building lobby, even when the exhibition is closed, seamlessly integrating urban public spaces and activities from the surrounding park and plaza.

Environmentally friendly use of materials

Considering Turku's ecological priorities, the strategic use of stainless steel and local timber on building facades emerges as an environmentally friendly combination. It offers a harmonious synergy with various ecological benefits. The enduring nature of stainless steel complements the renewable characteristics of timber, resulting in a facade that requires minimal maintenance over its lifecycle. This material selection promotes a balance between durability, recyclability, and carbon sequestration, fostering a more sustainable and ecologically responsible built environment in Turku. This minimizes the overall environmental footprint, aligning with the city's broader sustainability goals.

The convertible façade, constructed with stainless steel and timber rods, adapts to different lighting conditions throughout the day. LED bulbs atop the rods display trending words as flashing pixels after dark, conveying ideas, history, time, hot topics, and future perspectives.

Climate change resilience

In recognition of the impact of climate change, especially rising sea levels and increased instances of intense rainfall, a sunken ground is strategically positioned near the west side of the museum. This feature efficiently collects stormwater, discharging it to the sea through culverts. The south bank is transformed into steps, expediting water discharge on land and providing a waterfront relaxing space in good weather. All precious exhibits are displayed on the second floor of the museum, ensuring their secure preservation even in the event of flooding.

Exemplary innovative energy integration design

The museum incorporates an exemplary Innovative Energy Integration Design, integrating skylight systems, rainwater collection systems, and photovoltaic panels above the lobby and exhibition hall. This efficient and integrated approach fulfills multiple sustainable technological requirements within the same building components. The electricity collected during the daytime from the photovoltaic panels is utilized for the pixel lighting display on the building facade during the night.

Classification scale of environmental quality

Adhering to the Classification Criteria for new construction and overhaul of Office and Service Buildings 2018, and considering the upcoming construction phase, all design measures for this competition have already met the requirements for at least 70 points, earning a four-level star rating on the environmental quality classification scale.