Cossement Cardoso has secured second place in the international competition for Helsinki's new Architecture and Design Museum, located along the city's historic South Harbour. The competition drew 624 entries from around the world, with JKMM Architects ultimately taking first place with their winning design. Other notable submissions included Luca Poian Forms' Väkkärä concept, making this one of the most competitive architectural contests in recent years.

Cossement Cardoso's innovative design stands out as a thoughtful conversation between nature, history, and urban development. The proposed museum sits within a complex environment shaped by centuries of maritime activity and urban growth, where the building carefully respects its surroundings while offering a fresh interpretation of the space. The architects drew deep inspiration from Finland's natural landscape and rich architectural traditions, incorporating elements from the country's iconic birch forests to the crystalline formations found in Finnish ice.

The museum's design masterfully combines organic shapes with precise geometric elements, creating gently curved exterior walls that encourage visitors to explore the building from every possible angle. The architectural concept evolved from what began as a solid concrete structure into a translucent fortress made of specially textured glass. This transformation represents a careful balance between providing protection and maintaining openness, allowing the glass facades to filter natural light while preserving a sense of security for the valuable collections inside.

The building's most striking feature is its undulating roof, which flows like billowing sails and creates a visual connection with Helsinki's maritime heritage and distinctive skyline. This wave-like roof design offers the city a subtle yet memorable landmark that successfully bridges Helsinki's historical past with its future development. The overall effect transforms the museum into a cultural beacon positioned at the important threshold between land and sea.

The choice of materials reflects Cossement Cardoso's commitment to experimental and sustainable building practices. The team selected recycled glass as the primary material, which is heated and poured into specially crafted wooden molds during the construction process. When the molten glass interacts with the charred timber molds, it creates completely unique textured panels that carry traces of both the natural landscape and traditional craftsmanship directly into the building's facade.

The repurposed timber from the molding process doesn't go to waste but instead enhances the interior spaces, adding warmth and a tactile quality that visitors can experience throughout the museum. The architects carefully calibrated the variation between textured and smooth glass surfaces, providing visual permeability exactly where needed while maintaining the right balance between enclosure and openness throughout the entire structure.

This comprehensive project represents a holistic response to Helsinki's context, Finnish culture, and traditional craftsmanship. The design successfully merges architecture with museum functionality, incorporates material experimentation with sustainability goals, and offers a contemporary interpretation of Finland's cultural heritage. The final result is a building that manages to be both protective and welcoming, sculptural yet permeable, firmly rooted in historical memory while embracing natural light, transparency, and the constantly evolving relationship between land, sea, and urban life.