Now held for the fifth time, the Architecture and Design Days will focus on celebrating the use, maintenance and repair of buildings and objects from on 31 January to 7 February. The festival’s theme, “Traces of Use”, reflects on our relationship with accepting patina and highlights the appreciation of our built and designed heritage.
During the week, various events, discussions and tours will be held in Helsinki, exploring the architecture and design of the city.
The main event discusses the importance of our built environment and its democratic use
The festival week will open on 30 January with the main event at Cultural Centre Stoa in Itäkeskus, which will explore the meanings of our surroundings and the acceptance of traces of use.
The event will feature an introduction to the upcoming development and expansion project of Cultural Centre Stoa, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. The design competition for the project is currently under way. The event will also look to the future from a youth perspective, as a panel discussion on youth environments takes place on stage.
The future of the Hanasaari power plant will be presented Project Manager Päivi Hietanen. The event will also delve into the diverse values of the built environment, discussing architectural art, urban identity and everyday life. The democratic use of urban space and city residents’ active role in maintaining and shaping their surroundings will be explored through perspectives such as skateboarding and immigrant communities. A refreshing viewpoint in the discussion will be the potential of rap music in urban planning.
Launch of the Responsible Design Manifesto
The Architecture and Design Days also reflect on the future and responsibility of design. The Responsible Design Manifesto will be launched at Helsinki City Hall’s Event Square on 30 January. The purpose of the manifesto is to deepen our understanding of the role of design in the sustainability transition.
Discussion about Helsinki’s museums
The design competition for the new Museum of Architecture and Design is currently under way, and the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) is looking for a new home. Attention is turning towards Eteläsatama (South Harbour): what is the current status of the area’s development?
On 4 February, an event organised by the Friends of the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture (Damy ry) will provide insights into this timely topic from the perspectives of both urban planning and museums.
The discussion event at Helsinki City Hall’s Event Square is open to everyone and can also be followed online at the Helsinki channel.
More information about the event (in Finnish).(Link leads to external service)
Exhibition of the Alvar Aalto Medal winner opens at the Architecture and Design Museum
On February 7, the Architecture and Design Museum will open an exhibition featuring the 2024 Alvar Aalto Medal winner, Belgian architect Marie-José Van Hee. The City of Helsinki is one of the supporters of the Alvar Aalto Medal.
The exhibition invites visitors into a house in southern Holland designed by Van Hee. The home’s living spaces, including the dining and living room, kitchen and a narrow terrace, have been constructed in the exhibition at their actual scale. The exhibition also showcases other key projects by Van Hee.
To mark the Architecture and Design Days, the exhibition can also be explored through a special curator-led themed tour on the opening day, 7 February. Advance registration is required for the English-language guided tour.
Dive into Alvar Aalto’s architecture in the renovated Finlandia Hall
One of Alvar Aalto’s most iconic works in Helsinki, Finlandia Hall, reopened to residents and visitors in January after a three-year renovation. The building also welcomes visitors during the Architecture and Design Days.
The renovation of Finlandia Hall has also received international recognition – the prestigious Wallpaper* magazine awarded it the Design Awards 2025 prize in the “Best Modernist Revival” category. The renovation has successfully preserved the building’s original spirit while modernising its technical systems, energy efficiency and accessibility to meet 21st-century standards.
To celebrate the reopening, a special illumination will be displayed on the Töölönlahti-facing façade of Finlandia Hall until 23 February.
Good architecture and design create meaningful experiences and a well-functioning everyday life for city residents
In Helsinki, architecture and design play a central role in developing both the built environment and city services, as well as creating a good everyday life for residents. The role and value of design have also been recognised in the City Strategy, which aims to integrate design more systematically into user-centred service development and improving the efficiency of the city organisation.
“Through good design and architecture, we build public spaces and services that create meaningful experiences for residents and foster a sense of community,” emphasises Chief Design Officer Hanna Harris, who has been leading Helsinki’s design activities since 2020.
“Last year, we also finalised Helsinki’s architectural programme. It outlines our commitment to high-quality and innovative architecture that is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable. We acknowledge the role of architecture and design in promoting well-being and preventing social exclusion. The architectural programme guides the City of Helsinki’s activities and aims to inspire others to uphold high standards in design and architecture.”
- All the events of the ArcDesign Festival (some available in English)(Link leads to external service)
- Press release about the renovated Finlandia Hall
- New museum of architecture and design(Link leads to external service)
- Helsinki architectural programme (pdf, in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
- Press release about the new architecture map
- Helsinki as a City of Design website(Link leads to external service)
- News item: Inspiring spaces and services in Helsinki through design
