Suncatcher is a Museum of Finnish Architecture & Design located along the South Harbor in Helsinki, Finland. This museum serves as a united community destination for locals as well as tourists, allowing for opportunities to celebrate the rich legacy of Finnish architecture and design through mass timber construction and site responsive design.

Suncatcher was a team effort, with specific roles of design production distributed amongst myself and two partners. A vital guiding principle of the museum's design is the meticulous control of natural light, which plays a central role in shaping the visitor experience. By carefully harnessing natural light, the building creates a dynamic interplay between light and shadow, enhancing the exhibition spaces and accentuating the architectural and design artifacts on display; hence the name, “Suncatcher.” From initial site analysis, four key conditions were identified that influenced the design approach: Urban, Social, Harbor, and Neighbor. The Urban condition addresses the street and the city, where the site's curvilinear side engages with the surrounding urban fabric. City blocks are formed from multiple buildings aggregating around central courtyards. These city blocks also form an urban datum of about 25 meters. Taking inspiration from Helsinki's city grid, the new museum begins with a structural grid parallel to the harbor front that shifts in response to the curve of the street, while the urban datum establishes the max height of the building. The Social condition at the northern edge of the site embraces the vibrant atmosphere of a nearby market hall and open public space. This is where the main entrance to the museum is located. At the peak of the building there is an observation level to allow views towards the city and harbor, its monuments, and social activities. Facing the harbor, a large open space frequented by ferries and cruise ships, the building rises to create a monumental presence on the waterfront. Its design dynamically reflects the movement and energy of these maritime elements, capturing the essence of Helsinki’s strong connection to the sea. The Neighbor condition acknowledges a future building as part of a master plan competition, as well as an adjacent hillside park. To establish a harmonious dialogue with the neighboring structure, which has a lower height compared to the urban datum, the elevation of the museum subtly slopes down, mirroring the topography of the park. Additionally, the building plan steps back from the adjacent structure, creating a seamless integration and fostering a cohesive urban fabric.

Partners : Chaz Mcrae & Nayelli Garcia