Amos Rex is a new landmark in Helsinki

The new art museum Amos Rex opens its doors in downtown Helsinki after the construction work, which took two and a half years to complete. The museum partially located underground was designed by JKMM Architects.

Amos Rex Helsinki

ART MUSEUM AMOS REX consists of the new underground exhibition space, the renovated Lasipalatsi including its movie theaters, and Lasipalatsi's event square, which undulates as the roof over the exhibition space. The new museum building has been built underneath the plaza. The convertible 2,200-square-meter exhibition space has been designed to meet the needs of modern art.

Amos Rex Helsinki
The citizens of Helsinki have adopted the undulating Lasipalatsi Square.
Amos Rex Helsinki
(From right to left), JKMM's project architect Freja Ståhlberg-Aalto, interior designer team lead Päivi Meuronen, Lasipalatsi's restoration project architect Katja Savolainen and head designer Asmo Jaaksi on the hillocks of the Lasipalatsi Square.
Amos Rex Helsinki
The doors and stairs on Lasipalatsi’s wall give access to Bio Rex's machine room.

The ceiling of the new exhibition space consists of gently arching domes, which together form hillocks, giving the Lasipalatsi Square a wholly new identity. The aim has been to create a new center for events and hanging out.

“By adding a bold new layer to Lasipalatsi, we feel we are connecting past with the present.” 

“Integrating one of Finland’s architecturally pioneering 1930s buildings – Lasipalatsi – as part of the Amos Rex project has been a moving experience. By adding a bold new layer to Lasipalatsi, we feel we are connecting past with the present. We would like this to come across as a seamless extension as well as an exciting museum space very much of its time,” says head designer Asmo Jaaksi.

Amos Rex Helsinki
Amos Rex's main entrance is located at Lasipalatsi on the side facing Mannerheimintie, leading to the new underground exhibition space.
Amos Rex Helsinki
“The new Amos Rex offers exceptional and convertible premises for art,” says Museum Director Kai Kartio. The skylights provide the visitors with a view to the urban environment above.
Amos Rex Helsinki
The starting point for the design was to create premises that are as flexible as possible and easily convertible for the varying needs of modern art. The vaulted structure provides the exhibition space a loadbearing capacity without columns.

JKMM Architects was founded in 1998, when Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä won the international architectural competition for the Turku Main Library. In two decades, their single workroom has grown into a design office of nearly one hundred professionals whose works, in addition to Amos Rex, include the Think Corner at the University of Helsinki, OP headquarters in Vallila, Finland’s World Expo pavilion Kirnu in Shanghai, and Seinäjoki City Library, to mention a few.

Amos Rex Helsinki
In addition to the new exhibition and service spaces, the movie theater Bio Rex is also part of Amos Rex. A new Iittala shop has been opened at street level.
Amos Rex Helsinki
Located on Mannerheimintie, Lasipalatsi was built in 1936. The architects of the original design were Viljo Revell, Heimo Riihimäki, and Niilo Kokko.
Amos Rex Helsinki
Bio Rex was one of the largest movie theaters of its time in Helsinki. Along with the opening of Amos Rex, regular showing activities will return to the renovated movie theater.

Amos Rex was carried out as a joint venture of the City of Helsinki and Föreningen Konstsamfundet. Amos Anderson founded Föreningen Konstsamfundet in 1940 and appointed the association as the only heir in his testament. According to its rules, Konstsamfundet maintains an art museum in Helsinki and at Söderlångvik on Kimito Island.

The art museum in Helsinki is now Amos Rex, and Amos Anderson's residence at Yrjönkatu, Helsinki, will be renovated and reopened as a home museum in a couple of years.

Amos Rex Art Museum
Mannerheimintie 22–24, Helsinki

Editing: Mikko Vaija Images: Tuomas Uusheimo and Mika Huisman

Previous story
Next story




Sign up to Finnish Design Shop’s newsletter and enter a monthly gift card prize draw!

Sign up

For the love of design

Design Stories is Finnish Design Shop's own online magazine, that takes you to beautiful Nordic homes, introduces new products and beloved icons – and much more!

Go to the Design Stories front page

Shop Nordic design

Design Stories is provided by Finnish Design Shop, the world’s largest online store specialized in Nordic design.

Discover our selection

Buy & sell authentic vintage

Franckly.com is a curated online marketplace for pre-owned design maintained by Finnish Design Shop.

Find treasures at Franckly