Museum of History and the Future / (MoH+F) | A MUSEUM IN THE PARK

Concept: On integrating architecture and greenspace

• A Museum in the Park: Nestled within Natura 2000, MoH+F seamlessly integrates with Linnanpuisto Castle Park, harmonizing with the surroundings. The design fosters a seamless connection, extending the museum’s presence

as a cohesive part of the landscape and in doing so, MoH+F stands as a symbolic representation of Turku’s rich history and promising future.

• A Museum on the Park: MoH+F’s exhibition program provides a canopy over the site inviting Turku’s residents to weave through and interact with the structure in multiple levels while providing access to the waterfront. The

exhibition levels gracefully dip down at multiple points to touch the ground plane creating the opportunity for visitors and residents alike to stop by the gift shops, cafes, restaurants, outdoor playgrounds and entertainment areas and blend

MoH+F with daily life. The accessible roof and secondary levels of MoH+F’s envelope offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including Turku’s Castle, the river Aura, the port and ferry terminal, and the island of Ruissalo.

The wood cladded museum’s envelope is a metaphor that reflects area’s shipbuilding tradition and history. From below, the structure resembles the hulls of ships and the roof decks extend the experience, while the walls give context to

the building by reflecting the local historical architecture and approach to sustainability.

• A Park on the Museum: MoH+F‘s green roofs and terraces transform into a vibrant park that connects back to the natural elements of the site. This innovated design reclaims the peninsula, extending the local greenery towards

the archipelago. The park on MoH+F provides outdoor spaces for recreation, relaxation, education, and special events and helps reduce the environmental impact of the building by improving the thermal performance, storm water

management, and the biodiversity.

Design

MoH+F’s design is based on incorporating the following challenges with the formal and programmatic development of ideas:

• History and the Architectural importance of Tuku’s castle: How does the new museum building and future expansion become a world destination for travelers and a local attraction for its residents and blends itself into the city’s

fabric and identity without overshadowing Turku’s long history and architectural significance of its oldest castle? MoH+F’s curved and arched shapes that follow the contour of the site and the river and create a dynamic and organic

appearance that contrasts with the linear and geometric forms of the castle and the port. MoH+F does this by arising from and becoming part of the landscape rather than claiming its footprint.

• Transforming industrialized man-made land: Since the 13th century to today this particular site and its surroundings have experienced a continual flux; from a strategic point of defense, to economic and industrial growth

through war, destruction and reconstruction for travel and industry resulting in a fenced-in barren parking lot and unwelcoming hardscape. By allowing these transformational forces and combining them with programmatic, contextual and

sustainability requirements, MoH+F molds itself into the site as a permeable structure that welcomes the flow of daily life through its skin and mass. Its transparent and permeable facade provides natural light and connects the interior to

its surroundings. MoH+F will have large windows and openings that frame the views and let in natural light and ventilation while sliding and folding doors that open up to the park and the river.

• Multiple and competing access to the site: Unusual in the way of frontage, MoH+F site is literally multifaceted and demands a structure which can present itself to simultaneous approach trajectories while still paying compliments

to the castle. MoH+F addresses this challenge by extending itself into the landscape, and allowing its circulation to become part of the existing streetscape, pedestrian and bike paths, docks, boardwalks, and greenspaces and by a ramping

and undulating landscape that connect the site and the building with gentle slopes and meandering paths that invite the visitors to explore and discover, maximizing accessibility to all. Stairs and elevators provide additional mechanized

accessibility and mobility.

• Flexibility: MoH+F uses a modular and flexible structure that allows for different configurations and employs a grid of columns and beams that support the cantilevered floors and roofs to create a variety of spaces and functions.

Sustainability Strategies

• Wood is used as cladding material for the structure. As a renewable and biodegradable material with lower embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions than conventional materials such as concrete or steel while it also stores

carbon and provides a natural warmth and aesthetic.

• MoH+F uses passive and active systems for energy and water efficiency, and geothermal heat pumps to generate renewable energy. It will also harvest rainwater and recycle greywater and incorporate low-flow fixtures to reduce

water consumption.

• With its green roofs and terraces MoH+F will help restore and improve the microclimate and the ecology of the site and surroundings and extend the flora and fauna of the adjacent parks.

Accessibility

• MoH+F employs multiple access points at multiple levels. By elevating the museum, the Linnanpuisto Castle Park, on the east side, meets the Toinen Poikkikatu’s cycling pedestrian promenade, on the west side. 1) A main atrium

entrance opens up to the west side, on the ground level, and 2) another raised set of entrances on the mezzanine connect the theater foyer & café to the atrium’s helical ramp. The mezzanine access provides an option for the theater to

function independently from the museum. 3) and the restaurant and partners’ areas are accessible from the main atrium and from Toinen Linja northside road. 4) Staff access is on this side of the road. 5) Service access is tucked under

the ramping up park-site on the north east corner, directly facing Satamakatu Rd. Optional access means are available to further synergize between activities in the public open spaces with museum’s special cultural activities: 6) access

from the oculus ramp up to the roof terrace leads to a lower set of outdoor terraces (sculpture gardens) that give onto the permanent and temporary exhibitions, tying to steps that provide 7) access to and from the port/park level. 8) An

optional access from the upper foyer level on the first floor connects the indoor theater to an outdoor one, feathered and fanning atop the roof interacting with outdoor spectacles with Turku Castle as a backdrop.

• MoH+F opens up to its surroundings by its proximity and accessibility to all modes of transport, including walking, cycling, and public transit and providing bike racks and charging stations.