The building of WAM Turku City Art Museum, completed in 1967, is currently undergoing major renovation and extension. The renewed museum will open to the public in the autumn of 2026. 

Through the renovation, the museum’s exhibition spaces will be expanded, technical systems modernised, and the facilities made fully accessible. Parts of the interior will be restored to their original architectural design, and basement areas previously used for storage will once again serve as exhibition spaces. On the riverside, former office spaces will be opened to visitors, while the studio will be transformed into an event venue encouraging dialogue between different art forms. 

The new extension, built between the museum building and Urheilupuisto Park, will provide new offices, art handling facilities and a new loading dock, accessible for large vehicle combinations. From the top-floor offices of the new extension there will be views over the river, and the courtyard terrace will link the extension to the existing building, guiding visitors towards the park. 

– The renovation has been an exceptionally interesting and multifaceted project that combines restoration and new construction in an inspiring way. We have worked in close collaboration with WAM, and it has been a pleasure to work on such a significant building, says Vesa Hintukainen, Head of Profit Centre at Skanska. 

Designed by the architectural practice Irma and Matti Aaltonen, the building is one of the gems of Finnish museum architecture from the 1960s. The project has paid special attention to preserving the museum’s original character and architectural appearance. WAM is an important part of Turku’s cultural landscape, and its modernist architecture is now receiving a dignified update to meet the needs of today’s museum activities. 

– The Wäinö Aaltonen Museum represents the architecture of the 1960s – modernism and concrete brutalism. The white building, rising along the slope towards the Sports Park and accentuating the projecting cube of the studio, stands out from the other cultural buildings on the banks of the Aura River through its composition. Inside, the original atrium courtyard with its water feature and the aquarium in the main entrance hall will be restored. These add further value to the exhibition spaces, says Mikko Uotila, Chief Designer at Arkkitehtisuunnittelu Mikko Uotila Ab. 

The public at the heart of WAM’s activities 

– The construction project, which began in spring 2024, is now nearing completion. Cooperation with both the chief designer and the contractor has proceeded seamlessly towards a common goal. I look forward to implementing new initiatives and offering our audiences an even higher-quality programme, says Satu Pajarre, Director of the Art Museum. 

The renovated premises of WAM will enable even more diverse museum activities. The permanent exhibition will present the City of Turku’s art collection and works by Wäinö Aaltonen, while also providing a deeper insight into the artist as a person. Temporary exhibitions will feature topical Finnish and international contemporary art, focusing on spatial art and sculpture. The new exhibition technology will make it possible to display immersive media art installations more effectively than ever before. 

The renewed WAM will offer events, guided tours and workshops for visitors of all ages. WAMx, opening on the upper floor, will provide a venue for experiments, performances and exhibitions that cross the boundaries between different art forms. As part of the renovation, the museum shop and café will also be refurbished. 

Wäinö Aaltonen’s early relief to be displayed to the public 

As part of the renovation, the public will have the opportunity to see Wäinö Aaltonen’s early concrete relief from 1914. The work, depicting brick carriers at a construction site, will be installed in the museum’s new exhibition spaces on the lower floor. The relief was originally part of Wiklund’s ironmongery building and was Aaltonen’s first commissioned work. Councillor of Commerce Axel Wiklund commissioned the piece from the young artist while he was studying at the Turku Drawing School. 

The relief originally adorned Wiklund’s ironmongery on Eerikinkatu. The building was demolished in 1961, and the relief was transferred to the ownership of the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum in 1962. 

Main image: Vision image of WAM’s main lobby. Credit: Juuso Lahtinen / Aisto.