NEGOTIATING NATURE: DESIGNING A MUSEUM ACROSS FOREST, GRANITE, AND SEA

The main programmes of the museum are log construction collections, old tool collections, the archive, and the reception. These design advancements reflect the variations in each program based on the museum’s location, the interrelations of each program, and environmental conditions. As the project encompasses coastal seas, granite, and forests, each space offers a distinct and diverse natural landscape. One of the critical subjects throughout the project is how my project will negotiate forest ground, granite coast, and water.

One of the pivotal subjects throughout the project is how my project will negotiate forest ground, granite coast, and water. I designed my project’s structure by utilising the bending timber prototype, which I explored from the initial bending timber experiment. The footing design and materials will differ depending on the site’s natural conditions.

SITE DRAWING: WHERE FOREST MEETS SEA

The site offers views of the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, the Seurasaaenselka waterfront rail and its main facilities across the island. Furthermore, it is fascinating that both forest and ocean views can be seen simultaneously.

This project is to propose a museum using Finnish wood. I planned to design the project using the location and type of trees within the site area, so I walked around and researched it myself. Interestingly, there were various types of hardwood and softwood, with an overwhelming number of pine trees and spruce.

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DESIGNING A FINNISH LOG CONSTRUCTION MUSEUM ON SEURASAARI ISLAND

The site was deliberately designated as the inside of the island. I have developed a strategy for visitors to the island to come to my site after freely viewing the museum. If visitors come to this area after comprehensively viewing the traditional architecture of each Finnish province, they will be able to experience the Finnish log construction museum.

EXPLORING SEURASAARI ISLAND: A GLIMPSE INTO FINLAND’S PAST

Seurasaari Island in Helsinki is best known as the home to the popular open-air museum. This venue offers a glimpse into the life of Finland’s countryside in various epochs, showcasing old, mainly wooden houses, some of which – once lived in by famous people in Finnish history – were transplanted to the island and thus became part of the museum.

87 separate buildings give an overall view of the life in Finnish countryside from the 18th to the 20th. At the Open-Air Museum of Seurasaari the traditional Finnish way of life is displayed in the cottages, farmsteads and manors of the past four centuries that have been relocated from all around Finland.

SITE: SEURASAARI OPEN-AIR MUSEUM, HELSINKI, FINALND

The project is located in the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum in Helsinki, Finland.

Analysing the site’s surrounding context along the Seurrasarenselka waterfront promenade was a significant act in understanding the conditions of the surrounding site. Although walking for more than six hours was arduous, it was meaningful to feel the atmosphere and periphery site conditions.

The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum was founded in 1909 by Professor Axel Olai Heikel. He wanted to build a “Miniature Finland” by moving typical buildings from the various landscapes to Seurasaari Island. Thus, the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is not a random collection of picturesque buildings; all buildings are carefully selected.

The museum transports you back to the rural landscape of the olden days, creating a relaxing and quiet atmosphere. The museum consists of buildings from the different provinces of Finland. Relocated to Seurasaari Island, they give an overall view of life in the Finnish countryside from the 18th to the 20th.