Architecture Outside The Box
The Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum Helsinki have started an initiative called Architecture Outside the Box. In the initiative we aim to learn how the museums could work together with people outside the museum building around the city. We want to try new ways of talking about architecture and learn how the museums could support local communities such as friend groups, neighbors, activists or basketball teams.
Working together is important because even though architects design buildings, everyone uses and shapes their own local environment in their everyday lives. Traditionally, architecture refers to the art of building, i.e. the design of neighborhoods, buildings or their parts. We are interested in what architecture outside this definition might mean. What is building and shaping the environment that is not defined as architecture? What kind of architecture is not exhibited in museums, and who decides this?
Apply as part of the working group
We are looking for people to try something new with! We are putting together a working group of interested people with whom to build, dismantle or renew something. The working group decides what to build: a bench, a meeting place or a community, for example.
Apply to the working group by Thursday May 9th.
You can read more about the open call below.
What will the working group do?
We are interested in redefining with you what construction means. Construction is about bringing things together. In construction, parts, materials or ideas can be combined to create something new, such as buildings, or to reinforce what already exists.
In architecture, construction is often seen as inherently positive. However, bringing material together moves it away from somewhere else. Raw materials are collected, for example, from the global south, where the effects of construction, such as resource depletion and environmental degradation, are seen at a distance from the finished building itself. Construction affects the lives of many people, but can these people influence the construction process? We want to reflect together on how the power over construction is used and shared.
Is construction only the privilege of architects, construction workers, engineers and others in the industry? Who else builds and shapes their own environment? Have you taken part in yard work, tinkered with neighbours or built a barbecue spot where to gather with friends?
How much construction is needed? Instead, is there a need to dismantle structures or to reform institutions such as museums? Or would the most important building project be to strengthen community, empathy and compassion?
We hope you will join us in considering these questions. We want to invite people to join us in a building project – a concrete or figurative one. The building project can be collective construction or even building a community or collective action. We will put together a working group of interested people to carry out a project over the course of a year in the capital region. We at the museum will help throughout the process and the whole working group will decide together what to do.
What do we offer?
The museum pay for the costs of the project and the compensation for the participants. A fee of 500 euros will be paid to each member of the working group. The working group will meet approximately twice a month from May to November 2024. We will agree on meeting times that suit everyone. In July, the working group will enjoy a holiday without meetings.
Museum staff will be responsible for the practical organisation of the project and will be present at all meetings and supportive in all activities.
Who can apply?
We do not expect applicants to have previous experience or expertise in, for example, association work, museum work or building projects. To us it is only important that you are interested in meeting new people and working together.
The working language of the working group is Finnish or English. You can apply if you speak one or both languages.
Application is open to people over 18 years of age.
Who do we hope to apply?
We welcome applicants of different ages, from different genders, language, cultural and other minorities. You can indicate in your application that you belong to one of these groups. Any information you provide will be treated confidentially. The museum has a goal to promote equity in the society. In the application process, we aim to take into account the societal structures that set people in different positions or hierarchies in comparison to each other.
We welcome applications from people with no previous professional experience in the museum sector, architecture, or construction.
Who makes the selection?
The working group members are selected by the team leading the initiative. The team includes:
Naomi Holopainen, Ataa Agency, Critical friend of the initiative
Matti Jänkälä, Project worker of the initiative at the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki
Arja-Liisa Kaasinen, Head of Learning, Communities and Public Programmes at the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki
Jemina Vainikka Lindholm, Curator of community engagement at the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki
Kaura Raudaskoski, Producer of Public Programmes at the Museum of Finnish Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki
Miina Kanko, Architect and art education thesis worker in the initiative
The the selection panel members will handle your answers with discretion.
How to apply?
Want to jump on board? You can apply to join the working group using the form below or come and meet us on Tuesday May 7th 6-8pm in the Kuutio-space on the second floor of the Oodi library and sign up.
The application period for the working group is open until Thursday May 9th at 23:59.
The application form is short and easy to fill. If you prefer, you can also respond by, for example, leaving us a video of yourself instead of writing.
Members of the selection panel will read the applications and review any videos submitted by applicants on the form. If necessary, we will contact specific applicants by phone on Monday May 13th if we would like to hear more information. We will agree on the time for the short discussion with the applicant individually.
We will contact the selected applicants on May 15th and inform all applicants of the status of their applications by Friday May 17th. We will organise a first meeting with the selected applicants on Tuesday 28 May in the evening. We will agree on the exact time with the selected candidates.
Join the communication channel of the initiative
Would you like to hear more about the Architecture Outside the Box -initiative? You can join the initiative’s mailing list via this form. On the mailing list we will inform you about the latest news regarding the initiative via email. On the mailing list we will additionally inform about the future services and events targeted at local communities and people interested in their built environment.
Do you have questions regarding the Architecture Outside the Box -initiative or the open call? You can email the initiative’s project worker Matti Jänkälä at matti.jankala@mfa.fi