TOGETHER WITH
JKMM ARCHITECTS
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINLAND

Signature Light Fixture for the New National Museum of Finland

In collaboration with JKMM Architects

Milla Vaahtera, in collaboration with JKMM Architects, has designed the Atlas Light, a signature light fixture for the new annex of the National Museum of Finland. The luminaires will be installed throughout the above-ground portion of the building, illuminating the entrance and restaurant areas while creating a warm and atmospheric presence within the monumental architectural setting.

The design subtly references Finland’s national flower, the lily of the valley. Each glass element is individually hand-blown in the renowned Nuutajärvi Glass Village, and every opening is shaped by hand, making each component unique. The Atlas Lights bring a soft, ambient glow together with a rich material expression that complements the architecture of the museum.

Located in the heart of Helsinki, near the Parliament House and opposite Alvar Aalto’s Finlandia Hall, the National Museum of Finland is one of the country's most significant cultural landmarks. Its original building, completed in 1916, is regarded as a masterpiece of National Romantic architecture. In 2019, JKMM Architects won the international competition to design the museum’s new annex. Scheduled to open in 2027, the extension will feature a new entrance pavilion situated in the museum courtyard and expansive underground exhibition spaces that connect seamlessly with the renovated historic building.


Design
Milla Vaahtera & JKMM Architects

Design Assistants
Eveliina Saarentaus & Laura Grönlund

Photos
Julia Töyrylä,  Milla Vaahtera & Hannakaisa Pekkala

Videon ohjaus & leikkaus/ Video direction & editing 
Päivi Niemi

Kuvaus / Videography 
Päivi Niemi, Hanna-kaisa Pekkala & Milla Vaahtera

Glassblowers
Samuli Parkkinen, Otto Koivuranta, Jasmiina Lehtomaa, Markus Roponen, Paula Pääkkönen & Sani Lappalainen

Mould Maker
Mika Ihanus

Coldworking
Tommi Tikkinen

Electrical Components
Innolux

Metal Components and Assembly
Milla Vaahtera, Eveliina Saarentaus, Laura Grönlund, Mirke Tilja, Miikka Pirinen & Julia Töyrylä

Electrical Installation
Innojok & Ab Elinstallation Per Juslin Oy

 Video direction & editing 
Päivi Niemi

Special Thanks

JKMM Architects, National Museum of Finland, Senaatti Kiinteistöt, SRV, A-Insinöörit, Ramboll,  Airam, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Kuopio Academy of Design Foundation, Asko Foundation, Lasikomppania, Nuutajärvi Glass Village, Glass School Nuutajärvi, Elinstallation Per Juslin, Suomen Valaisintarvike, S&N, Sertifiointi, Laser Riimikko and Oona Kallio.

The new National Museum of Finland will open in 2027.