JKMM Architects designed the Dance House in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, constructing a new building and renovating local spaces, such as the old Helsinki factory, to realize it.

The Dance House brings a new contemporary aesthetic to the history of the old factory from the 1940s and its surroundings. The new and the old contrast in the area, but also dialogue with each other.
JKMM Architects have included the essence of dance in the building, as in the façade, which reflects the lightness of the human body dancing with two heavy steel walls suspended in the air, defying gravity. One of the walls is made of rusted steel and the other of shiny stainless steel, continuing the dialogue between the contemporary and the ancient. The "floating" metal facades have been custom-built using laser welding technology.

The interior of the Dance House is a "dance machine", an industrial space with machine elements with the identity of the old factory but including cutting-edge technology to experience and interpret dance.

The project contains two theatre spaces designed for dance but also for other types of performing arts.  The "Erkko Hall" is the largest dance performance space in the Nordic countries at 26 meters wide, 37 meters deep, and 24 meters high, including a movable telescopic seating system for 700 people. This flexible space can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The auditorium, stage, and side stage of the Erkko Hall can also be separated to form three event spaces. The former Pannu hall in the Cable Factory was redesigned into a smaller black box theatre with seating for 235-400 people. The modular and mobile seating system has a total of 1,100 seats.


Dance House Helsinki by JKMM Architects. Photograph by Hannu Rytky.

Dance House Helsinki by JKMM Architects. Photograph by Hannu Rytky.


Dance House Helsinki by JKMM Architects. Photograph by Hannu Rytky.
 

Description of project by JKMM Architects

The Dance House project is a long-awaited milestone in the history of Finnish performing arts. The impressive new building and renovated premises in the old parts of the Cable Factory cultural centre are designed by JKMM Architects in collaboration with fellow Finnish practice, and ILO architects. The project, combining new and old, comprises over 7,000 square metres dedicated to dance – a world-class setting for the performance and experience of dance, circus, and culture. Finland's first landmark designed for dance opened at the Cable Factory Cultural Centre in Helsinki's downtown area in spring 2022.

The building is a significant remodelling and extension of Helsinki’s former cable factory. Dating from the early 1940s, this is where, for example, marine cables were manufactured. In the early 1990s, the building was acquired by the City of Helsinki and, today, the Cable Factory is Finland’s largest cultural centre containing museums, galleries, studios, art schools and many other spaces and functions for hundreds of creative tenants and professionals.  

The Dance House adds a striking contemporary layer to the history of the former factory and its surroundings. The new and the old are placed in contrast, but also in dialogue with each other. The Cable Factory's cultural and artistic tenants and visitors were actively engaged in the design process from the beginning. Their feedback has led to a major overhaul of the 30-year-old cultural centre during the construction project.

The architecture of the Dance House was inspired by dance. The aim was to examine the underlying principles of dance rather than its forms and aesthetics.

Dance deals with gravity, lightness, and the weight of the human body. The main façades consist of two gigantic steel walls, lifted from the ground and hovering in the air, seemingly defying gravity. The two walls are in dialogue: one wall is made of rough rusted steel and another of shiny stainless steel. The “floating” metal facades were custom designed by using laser welding technology, to create bespoke sandwich panels with the biggest possible surfaces of metal.

The Dance House is like a huge modern "dance machine", designed to connect to an old factory. The spaces are industrial in scale and the details can be identified as parts of a machine. The Dance House provides state-of-the-art technology for experiencing and performing dance.

The 7,000 sqm project contains two black-box dance theatre spaces.  ‘Erkko Hall’ is the largest dance performance space in the Nordic countries: 26 metres wide, 37 metres deep and 24 metres high, including a mobile 700-seat telescope seating system. The flexible space can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The Erkko Hall's auditorium, stage and side stage can also be separated to form three event spaces. The Cable Factory's old ‘Pannu Hall’ was redesigned into a smaller black-box theatre space for 235-400 people. The modular and movable seating system has a total of 1,100 seats. The performance spaces of the Dance House are equally suitable for dance, circus, and other demanding performing arts.

The Dance House project houses a new heart for Cable Factory, a glazed roof to cover the outside courtyard space between the factory wings transforming it into a multifunctional entrance and event space. Inside, in addition to the Dance House theatres, the visitor will find the lobby; a restaurant; a cellar serving as an underground club and a cloakroom. Back-of-house facilities include the performers' greenroom; a training studio; changing rooms; offices. Dance can spread everywhere: out of the halls to the lobby, glass courtyard and further out to Cable Square, all kitted out with performance facilities.

Dance House Helsinki is the first performance and event space in Finland dedicated to dance. It provides a spectacular setting for performing and experiencing dance and circus all year round. The Dance House offers both domestic and international dance and performing arts performances. Dance House Helsinki's programme consists of programme content produced by different cultural operators and Dance House Helsinki's own programme project activities. The operations of Dance House Helsinki are supported by the City of Helsinki and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland. Dance House Helsinki's sparks programme, which is to be implemented in 2020–2023, is supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the International Visiting Programme, which is to be implemented in the opening years 2022–2023, is supported by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.

More information

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Architects
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JKMM Architects. Lead architect, architect SAFA.- Teemu Kurkela; Project architect, architect.- Harri Lindberg.
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Proyect team
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JKMM Architects Design Team.- Teemu Taskinen, Hannu Rytkya, Salla Oikkonen, Marko Pulli, Reetta Aarnio, Anniina Koskela, Jarno Vesa, Edit Bajsz, Tatu Laakso, Asmo Jaaksi, Samuli Miettinen, Juha Mäki-Jyllilä.
JKMM Interiors Design Team.- Noora Liesimaa, Paula Salonen.
ILO Architects Design Team.- Pia Ilonen, Kati Murtola, Carolin Franke, Karoliina Hoppu.
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Collaborators
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Structural design.- A-Insinöörit Oy.
HVAC engineering.- Granlund Oy.
Theatre technology consulting and engineering.-    BlueNode GmbH.
Geotechnical engineering.- Pohjatekniikka Oy.
Acoustics and sound design.- Akukon Oy.
Fire consultant.- Paloässät Oy.
Landscape design.- Nomaji maisema-arkkitehdit Oy.
Transport planning.- WSP Finland Oy.
IT & BIM consulting.- Byggnadsekonomi Oy.
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Client
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Kiinteistö Oy Kaapelitalo.
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Builders
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Haahtela Oy.
Exterior. Steel constructions.- Teräsasennus Toivonen Oy; Steel elements of floating facades.- Kenno Tech Oy; Glass ceilings and walls.- VMT Steel Oy; Windows.- Warmeco; Doors.- Jaatimet Oy.
Interior. Stage structures and lifting doors.- Ypäjän Metalli Oy; Cast-in-place concrete structures.- AKR Betoni Oy; Concrete floors.- Lattiatohtori Oy; Inner lining and glass walls.- Inlook Oy; Audience seating systems.- Hamari Oy; Fixtures.- Merianto Install Oy.
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Area
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7,000 sqm.
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Budget
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€ 34,800,000.
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Dates
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Project planning 2016 – Completion 2022.
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Location
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Helsinki, Finland.
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Photography
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Tuomas Uusheimo, Hannu Rytky, Peter Vuorenrinne, Pauliina Salonen, Marc Goodwin, Harri Lindberg.
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JKMM Architects is a group of architects and designers based in Helsinki, Finland. We started in 1998 with four founding partners – Asmo Jaaksi, Teemu Kurkela, Samuli Miettinen and Juha Mäki-Jyllilä. Today, we are a team of more than 70 people.

The American Architectural Record chosen JKMM as one of the “10 Emerging New Firms in the World”. Our works have been presented in various exhibitions including Venice Biennale, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Finnish Architecture.

Awards
  • Hurraa! 2016 Award, The New Harald Herlin Learning Centre
  • Finnish Glass Structure Award 2016, OP Financial Group's New Headquarter
  • Rose for Building 2015, OP Financial Group's New Headquarter
  • Steel Structure 2015, OP Financial Group's New Headquarter
  • Tekla Global BIM Awards –award 2014, Total Bim -category, OP Financial Group's New Headquarter
  • Concrete Structure of 2012, Seinäjoki Library
  • Lighting project of the year 2011, exterior, Saunalahden Lastentalo
  • Shanghai Expo 2010, best pavilion design and architecture, kategory B, Kirnu, BIE (Bureau International des Expositions)
  • Finnish State Award of Architecture 2007
  • Steel Structure of 2007, Verkatehdas Cultural Center
  • Glass Structure of 2007, Verkatehdas Cultural Center
  • Forum Aid Prize, Best Nordic Interior 2007, nominee, Verkatehdas Cultural Center
  • Concrete Structure of 2007, Turku City Library
  • Frame The Great Indoors-Award-Nominee 2007, Viikki church
  • Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award, Viikki church, 2006
  • Pietilä Award, 2006

Asmo Jaaksi, Principal Architect, Amos Rex
Architect SAFA, partner

Asmo Jaaksi (born in 1966) studied architecture at Tampere University of Technology graduating 1997. He is a founding part- ner of JKMM Architects and has specialised in designing public buildings. His works reflect the values of inclusiveness and humanity combined with practicality and focus on materiality and details. Asmo Jaaksi’s major works as the principal architect are: Amos Rex art museum; Academy of Fine Arts building in Helsinki; Think Corner in University of Helsinki; OP Financial Group headquarters; Seinäjoki City Library; Turku Main Library; and Joensuu University Aurora building.

Freja Ståhlberg-Aalto, Project Architect, Amos Rex
Architect SAFA

Freja Ståhlberg-Aalto (born in 1973) graduated in Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology in 2001. At JKMM, she has been involved in the design of award winning buildings such Seinäjoki Public Library, Verkatehdas Arts & Congress Cen- tre and Turku New City Library. Since 2014, she has worked as the project architect of Amos Rex. She is now in the final phase of her doctoral research project focusing on the role of aesthet- ics in the care environment. She has held a part time teaching position at the Department of Architecture, Aalto University.

Päivi Meuronen, Architect specialising in Interiors, Amos Rex
Interior Architect SIO

Päivi Meuronen (1967) graduated in Interior Architecture from the University of Art and Design, Helsinki and has been the driving force behind JKMM Architects’ interior designs since 2003. She leads a team of 18 at JKMM specialising in interiors. The team has been successful in creating projects where JKMM’s architecture and interior design form a seamless unity. JKMM’s interior for the recently restored Alvar Aalto designed library in Otaniemi was awarded the Finlandia Prize for Architecture 2017.

Katja Savolainen, Restoration Architect, Amos Rex
Architect SAFA

Katja Savolainen (born in 1969) graduated in Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology in 1999. She has been special- ising in conservation architecture since 2000. In 2004 she joined JKMM where, as part of the Amos Rex project, she has been responsible for the restoration of the Functionalist Lasipalatsi building in addition to a number of other historically significant projects around Finland. Katja has also been teaching and re- searching traditional building methods and their restoration with a particular interest in wooden structures.
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Published on: October 17, 2022
Cite: "The benchmark of Nordic performing arts. Dance House Helsinki by JKMM Architects" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/benchmark-nordic-performing-arts-dance-house-helsinki-jkmm-architects> ISSN 1139-6415
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