The museum's signature skylights are modeled after the structural logic of the Lasipalatsi building's original design.
The plaza's domes are specifically engineered to support the weight of pedestrians and public gatherings.
The project involved the complete restoration of the protected 1936 Lasipalatsi functionalist building.
The main exhibition hall features a unique, flexible grid system for modular wall installations.
The museum is built directly atop a former bus depot and historical transit hub site.
The Bio Rex cinema connected to the museum is considered one of Finland's finest examples of functionalist architecture.
Amos Rex is a subterranean art museum located beneath the Lasipalatsi square in central Helsinki. The facility features massive, undulating concrete domes that protrude through the plaza floor, doubling as urban hills for public recreation. Designed by JKMM Architects, the exhibition spaces are housed entirely underground to preserve the historic 1930s functionalist Lasipalatsi building. The primary gallery is a 2,200-square-meter pillar-less space characterized by its extreme ceiling height and flexible exhibition walls. The museum hosts a rotating series of contemporary, experimental, and modern art exhibitions. It is built to connect to the historic Bio Rex cinema, which was restored to its original 1930s aesthetic as part of the museum project. Skylights integrated into the domes bring natural light into the museum’s main lobby and underground foyers. The museum operates under the umbrella of the Föreningen Konstsamfundet foundation.
From the top of the concrete domes looking out across the Lasipalatsi square toward the city center.
Check the plaza square surface for spontaneous public events, as the dome structures serve as natural amphitheater seating.
Ensure you visit the restored Bio Rex cinema lobby area to appreciate the period-accurate lighting and interior design.
Check the museum's rotating exhibition schedule online before arriving, as the underground space is entirely reconfigured between major shows.
Assuming the museum is a standard ground-level building; the entrance is located within the historic Lasipalatsi glass palace.
Closed on Tuesdays.
Large backpacks and bulky items must be left in lockers; photography is generally permitted for private use unless otherwise specified by exhibition signs.
