Team: Alessandro Moriconi, Giuseppe Marrone, Marzia Mattioli, Mattia Mattioli

Place: Helsinki

In fìnnish design, products and places stimulate play: interactions, discovery and fun. We asked ourselves: "What is the most archetypal image when thinking of a place to play? Circus!". The circus belongs to the collective memory, embodies the idea of fun.

We applied this concept to the site of Makasiiniranta, defìned by two main paths: the shoreline and the interior alleys, the inner path is extended through the museum to define a permeable flow. The two interior alleys define four areas, conceived as self-supporting volumes, thanks to X-LAM technology, ensuring an adaptable space. A central courtyard is surrounded by a mix of activities, every volume has multiple different functions, accessible without entering the exhibition area, which is mainly located on the fìrst floor. This vibrant "campus" is sheltered by a common tent: every tree-shaped column supports a sail, clad with solar tiles; this shiny dragon-scale tiles reflect the light during day-time, causing a spontaneous visual connection with the sea waves. The tent-like architecture, from the highest point towards Laivasillankatu, gradually lowers when approaching the waterfront, preserving all important views in the area. The unique curved shapes, not only allow a diffused natural lighting, but bend to offer a public sitting towards the shoreline and a high-level square, becoming one of the highest squares in all Helsinki!

The exterior facade is composed by an alternating pattern of vertical silver elements, as a gradient from the regular facades of the historical buildings facing the seaside. The museum square in the northern area, has an organic drawing, with a bundle of lines flowing through the round event areas, plants and dunes. The New Museum of Architecture and Design will be a playful and collective experience in the world of creativity, under one wavy roof, accessible to everyone, but never in a boring way.