The Museum of History and the Future will be built in Turku and will open to the public in 2029. The new museum will be built in the Linnanniemi area, close to the port and Turku Castle. Before its opening, it is possible to get a glimpse of the museum's future content in various events, and through online content.

The idea to build a new museum in Turku was first proposed in 2011, when the city was the European Capital of Culture. The museum will be a highly interactive space, with a constantly evolving program of exhibitions showcasing the most creative and innovative scientific research and audio-visual techniques to explore the past and the future. Driven by Turku City Council, the organisers envisage the museum becoming a corner stone of cultural life in the region, with residents able to visit and see new exhibitions frequently throughout the year. The museum will also provide world class space to educate students and a diverse range of skilled jobs for the city.

The international architectural competition for the Museum of History and the Future in Turku, Finland, has been won by the Finnish firm Sigge Architects Ltd with their proposal "Squāma." The results of the competition were announced at an awards ceremony held in the Queen's Hall of Turku Castle on 17 June 2024.

A Celebration of Finnish and Turku Architecture

Turku is developing its urban centre through culture as it strengthens its position as a European cultural point of interest and an attractive international tourist destination. The new museum will be the driving force behind the development of Linnanniemi, transforming the old harbour area into a welcoming and community-focused arts district, while extending the Cultural Riverbank towards the sea.

According to the chair of the jury, Turku’s Mayor Minna Arve, all the awarded works combined ambitious architecture and contextually appropriate design. 

– Over the last few years, Turku has built momentum and established a reputation as a thriving cultural city. Sigge’s design exemplifies the values of our city: experimental, sustainable, open, and always looking to the future while cherishing its history. With a range of schemes nearing completion along the banks of river Aura, we’re excited for the future of Turku as European hub for art, music, museums, and food, said Minna Arve.

In the winning design, the entrance to the museum is positioned towards Turku Castle at the end of Satamakatu street. Visitors enter through an open plaza and a main entrance with glass facades, offering an unhindered view towards the sea. The museum's functions, such as exhibition spaces, collaborative areas, an auditorium, and a café-restaurant, are arranged along a single long internal pathway. The head designer of the winning proposal, Pekka Mäki of Turku-based Sigge Architects Ltd, is delighted with the victory in a highly competitive international contest.

– It is a great joy and honour to win an international architectural competition in my hometown. The aim was to create a museum building that fits in scale and architecture with Turku Castle. The spaces are placed on one level, making the museum building and its surroundings function as a seamless whole, said Pekka Mäki.

The new Museum of History and the Future will open in 2029, when Turku celebrates its 800th anniversary.