Kiasma Museum Of Contemporary Art
Helsinki

Steven Holl

The Parliament building in front is extending to the lake with a garden, that makes the Museum of Contenporary Art a union point. It is also the extention of Alvar Aalto's Opera Building.

In Hesinki the sun ray is very low. The building must reflect the light. The design concept is to reflect the light coming in, to use more efficiently. The form of the building designed to be suitable for this.

The important aim was to create a neutral space for art. The competetions traget was also to design a space consisting of different area type rooms. There is two atriums, because while one part of museum is working the ather part mustbe open. Here the connection between two atriums is always on. The type of the roof is Helsinki's standart metal roof structure. The roof's form is designed to reflect the light to the galleries at the lower parts. The light comes in the upper galleries from up and sides, lower parts takes from both sides and also from those special parts. Steven Holl made a cartoon model (1m3) to test the light. But that did not satisfy him, so they made a 1/2 scale model by the materials that they will use at the building.

There is two special lamps at the lobby, they are always on since Helsinki is generaly dark all through the day. The building is shinning by the glass made parts, that makes it more effective and encourge the people to come in. The empty spaces at the galleries are the most important areas. Art was the main subject of the design. The building is very pure and stands like a statue.