Aviapolis Museum

HZ was asked to deliver a concept for the New Aviation Museum and study a new location for it as part of the mixed-use Aviapolis Masterplan (by HZ) at Helsinki Airport. After a successful first round of discussions with investors the client Finnish Aviation Museum asked us to deliver Schematic Design for the new museum building.
In order to make the best out of limited resources and to optimize land-use we conceptualized a compact single volume, a simple shed, that draws its reference from aviation infrastructure. An office tower was added to the original concept to increase the feasibility of the hybrid project.
In designing the spatial experience within the simple rectangular volume, we have translated the diverse program into a structure that while remaining open in its feel, still manages to keep the specific uses – office areas, work-shops, archives, conference spaces and simulators - housed behind the scenes.
Under one big roof pane the hangar-like raw space provides flexible exhibition spaces. Wrapped in a facade composed of glass and steel the museum turns into an urban vitrine show-casing the history of finnish aviation and enlivening the surroundings.