Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2014 | Page 9

Working on a Dream
Richard Armstrong wants to build
a new Guggenheim museum in Helsinki
– and he will only take ‘Go!’ for an answer

Helsinki, the Daughter of Baltic, has had her share of suitors in
the past. This time around, there is a very persistent admirer at her
doorstep. Guggenheim, the most brandilicious museum franchise
on the planet, wants to build its next high-profile, pull-all-the-stops
museum right here – despite being turned down once already.

A

couple of years ago, bringing Guggenheim to Helsinki had the full support
of the City’s top politicians, but the
venture faced a rather sceptical public. The
introduction of Guggenheim to Helsinki’s
shorelines was viewed as a pet project of the
Finnish elite and even the Minister of Culture voiced concerns about the American invasion. This coincided with a zeitgeist that
found Finns turning inwards, frowning upon foreign influence, in the wake of the Parliamentary elections.
But that was then and this is now.
Richard Armstrong, the Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, is ready for the second round, claiming that he’s not frustrated about how things
turned out the first time around:
“I fully understand that people have
their reservations, I’m a sceptical person
myself. When I make decisions, I want to
see all the facts, too.”

Drive & Dialogue
Armstrong goes as far as to say that the wave
of public opinion and the rise of activism
that sank the first attempt is, in fact, one of
the things Guggenheim finds so appealing
about Finland. This is a nation where dialogue is encouraged and expected and people do have their say. Still, Armstrong admits to being “concerned” that Guggenheim
may not get a fair shake:
“We must make sure that there is transparency and dialogue. Whatever the decision
may be, we must move together, in a coordinated way.”

The second offer – which was made
in September – is “even more alluring” than
the first one, Armstrong promises. Instead
of the Ka