The new complex will be connected to the historic main building
In the single biggest construction project in the 100-plus-year history of the National Museum of Finland, the extension will be built in the museum’s courtyard park. At the same time, the museum’s historic main building will be partially renovated. The size of the extension is approximately 5,300 square metres. Of this, there are about 2,300 square metres of space for exhibitions, events, a museum shop and a restaurant. About 90 per cent of the new premises will be located underground. The final height of the event space is about seven metres. The area of the restaurant pavilion, which will be erected in the middle of the courtyard park, is about 430 square metres. The iconic museum building of the National Museum of Finland is approximately 7,680 square metres in size.
Restaurant
The glass-walled, graceful restaurant pavilion opens up the National Museum’s courtyard park to a new kind of use. Located in the heart of Helsinki, under the walls of the National Museum, the park is a unique place for a restaurant. The restaurant can serve events outside the museum’s opening hours and in the summer.The museum’s kitchen facilities will mainly be built underground. They serve the museum’s café, restaurant, meeting and banquet activities. The National Museum’s new restaurant operator will be put out to tender during 2025.
Museum Shop
The National Museum’s museum shop will have new premises in the historical main building. In addition, another museum shop will be built in the extension. Like the cafés and restaurants of the National Museum, you can also visit the museum shops without an entrance fee.
The National Museum of Finland is responsible for the selection and operation of its museum shops.