Garden Museum
Aalto Uni, Spring 2024
Helsinki, Finland
Prof. Matti, Mr. Simon
Individual Work
During the preliminary research, Finland’s unique natural en vironment and seasonal landscape changes left a deep im pression on me. For six months of the year, the city is covered in a blanket of white snow. During this long winter, not only is there a lack of green spaces for people to interact with, but outdoor activities are also limited due to the extremely low temperatures. Given the large area and the intact, open in door environment of the airport, the most crucial functional strategy for the redevelopment of this old structure is to cre ate an indoor evergreen park. To balance the high operating costs and the cultural value expected from the airport, a mu seum will also be designed to showcase the history of the air port and the surrounding area, with the possibility of hosting temporary cultural exhibitions. By employing the “box within a box” strategy, the redevelopment will minimize damage to the original structure, while making small adjustments to meet functional needs, such as enhancing natural lighting by transforming the roof into a glass ceiling.
The final result is an indoor garden museum, where a large slab combines the two functions, allowing them to interact and blend, creating a unique atmosphere. The construction process uses prefabrication, with all components pre-made in a factory and then assembled on-site at the airport. This ap proach is not only fast and minimally invasive but also a nod to Finland’s robust timber industry. This design will bring a new green experience and cultural engagement to the area, offer ing an especially valuable option for wintertime activities.