Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseo

About the museum

The Arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseo (Museum of Architecture and Design) came into being in early 2024, when the Arkkitehtuurimuseo (Museum of Architecture) and the Designmuseo (Design Museum) were merged into one museum. The museum operates in the building at Korkeavuorenkatu 23, which Gustaf Nyström designed in 1894 for the Swedish-language school Läroverket för gossar och flickor. Teaching in the building ended in 1977.

In September 2025 the former building of the Arkkitehtuurimuseo at Kasarmikatu 24 was closed to the public, and operations were concentrated on Korkeavuorenkatu. In the same month the proposal Kumma by JKMM Arkkitehdit won the design competition for the new museum building. The new museum is to rise in the Eteläsatama (South Harbour) of Helsinki: construction is planned to begin in early 2028, and the museum is to open to the public in 2030. At Eteläranta 6 there is a separate event venue, which also houses the Pallasma Library.

The museum is run by AD-museo Oy, and the owner of the museum and its collections is the Suomen arkkitehtuuri- ja designmuseosäätiö (Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Foundation), which manages the national collection of architecture and design. The museum director is Pilvi Kalhama. The museum also has a museum shop and the Taito Café.

Highlights

• Building designed by Gustaf Nyström in 1894
• Exhibitions on Finnish design and architecture
• Museum shop with Finnish and international design
• Helsingin arkkitehtuurin helmet (Gems of Helsinki Architecture) audio walk
• Taito Café

Founded

1873

Operated by

AD-museo Oy

Director

Pilvi Kalhama

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission once a month

The adult ticket applies to people aged 30–69. The Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted. Free admission also for teachers, students on relevant courses, early childhood and training groups, holders of press cards, the Helsinki Card and ICOM, ICOMOS and ICAM cards, museum staff, museum friends and personal assistants. Payment methods: Museokortti, bank and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard), cash, contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) and some employee benefit vouchers; EazyBreak, Diners Club, JCB, MobilePay and Amex are not accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The step-free entrance is on the courtyard side at Ullanlinnankatu 4: two ramps with railings; the door is locked and staff open it from the doorbell. The main entrance on Korkeavuorenkatu is reached by five stone steps, and the door is heavy. The lift serves floors 0–2. On the ground floor there is a step-free, gender-neutral toilet with an alarm cord, and a baby-changing room. There is no induction loop. A wheelchair can be borrowed for the duration of the visit. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome. There are benches and chairs in the lobby, the exhibition spaces and the café, and folding stools can be borrowed. There is one accessible parking space in the back courtyard; a parking permit can be obtained from the service desk.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Pushchairs can be taken into the exhibition spaces, and there is a pushchair park in the museum; the back door can be entered by ringing the doorbell. A baby-changing room and a potty are available, and the Studio on the basement floor is a calm space for eating and breastfeeding. The café has a high chair and a microwave.

Getting there & parking

Taxis can briefly stop in the back courtyard (Ullanlinnankatu). The step-free entrance is reached via Kasarmikatu and Ullanlinnankatu.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Taito Café (lunch and snacks) and the Design Shop, which sells Finnish and international design, architecture books, fashion, glass and ceramics. The lobby has unsupervised hangers and combination-lock lockers; large bags must be stored in the lockers or at the service desk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Spaces for meetings and private events; a separate event venue at Eteläranta 6.

Plan your visit