Architectural Democracy Podcast #17: The Museum Debate & Humanitarian Design with Saija Hollmén

In this episode of the Architectural Democracy Podcast, host Pedro Aibéo engages in a timely and thought-provoking conversation with architect and Aalto University professor Saija Hollmén. Recorded at Caisa in Helsinki, the dialogue unpacks the ambitions and contradictions of humanitarian architecture, while also addressing the heated public debate surrounding Helsinki’s proposed new Museum of Architecture and Design.

Humanitarian Architecture as Political Resistance

Hollmén, renowned for her humanitarian projects and her leadership of Aalto University’s World in Transition (WIT) Lab, describes humanitarian architecture as inherently political. Her latest initiative, "Kumasi Trees: Project of the Heart", takes place in Kumasi, Ghana, a city once celebrated as the “Garden City of West Africa.” With its green canopy devastated by investor-driven development, the project focuses not only on reforestation but on cultivating emotional and cultural ownership of trees among local communities.

“When the last tree dies, the last man dies,” Hollmén quotes the Ashanti king. “It’s not just about planting, it’s about people caring.”

Partnering with KNUST and UN-Habitat, the project aims to rebuild urban nature using indigenous knowledge, and to spark a grassroots environmental ethic.

Building as a Value Statement

Hollmén’s core philosophy is blunt: “The most ecological building is the one that’s never built.” Every decision to construct should be a value-based act, weighed against its social and environmental consequences. This is where the conversation becomes particularly contentious.

When discussing the proposed new Museum of Architecture and Design, Pedro raises the critiques laid out in his recent ARK Magazine article, questioning the necessity and sustainability of erecting a new cultural building on prime waterfront property in central Helsinki.

Hollmén, while diplomatically supportive of the museum’s ideals, concedes that the profession is divided:

“There’s excitement, yes—but also debate. If this is about values, then the process must truly reflect them.”

She emphasizes that the museum project is a testing ground, one that risks becoming another vanity project unless it truly innovates in low-carbon, democratic architecture.

Architecture, Power, and Control

The discussion expands into darker territory: the use of architecture as a tool of power and suppression. Hollmén cites the Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes as an example of architecture employed as punishment and control.

“Built environments can liberate, but they can also restrict and oppress. That’s why design is always political.”

Her stance is clear: humanitarian architecture must empower communities, not impose external visions. The best work, she says, renders the architect invisible.

Saija Hollmén

From Star Power to Team Power

Rejecting the image of the lone “starchitect,” Hollmén observes that today’s students gravitate toward collaborative, socially grounded design. The focus has shifted from photogenic spectacles to inclusive processes, reflecting a deeper cultural shift in architectural education.

“Good design today comes from listening, not dictating.”

Democracy is in the Process

The conversation turns philosophical. In Finland, trust in institutions is high—but is that always a good thing? Pedro raises concerns that unquestioned trust can suppress healthy criticism. Hollmén responds:

“I don’t think we trust power. We trust process. And that’s what makes democracy stable.”

She calls for robust civic dialogue—especially when projects like the new museum stir public concern. Hollmén stresses that criticism must be welcomed, not feared.

“Voicing dissent is courageous. It’s how democracies evolve.”

Final Thoughts

Whether in Ghana or Helsinki, Hollmén’s work asks difficult questions: Who benefits from what we build? What gets preserved—and what gets erased? As Finland moves forward with its museum project, her words serve as both encouragement and warning: architecture without values is just construction.

Listen to the full episode here.

Read Pedro Aibéo’s critical article in ARK about the new proposed Museum here.

Pedro Aibéo

Oulu, 29.06.2025