HOUSE OF SOUND - A NEW CENTER FOR SOUND ART, EXHIBITIONS, AND RESEARCH - WILL OPEN IN 2026-27 IN AKOLA MANOR IN II, FINLAND

Tokyo 30.1.2024 at 15:00 JST. Opening in 2026-27 on the grounds of Akola Manor in Ii in Northern Finland, House of Sound is a creation by Marko Ahtisaari, Artistic Director Aleksandra Peljin, and Architect Teemu Kurkela of JKMM. The opening exhibition will be curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine.

Plans for the new cultural institution were announced today at the Embassy of Finland in Tokyo, at an event on the future of museums and the infrastructure of happiness together with JKMM Architects.

House of Sound in Akola Manor. Image: JKMM Architects. High-resolution file.

"We are designing and building a new House of Sound, a space to listen, uniquely focused on sound art and exhibitions on the physics, neuroscience, human, social, and environmental impacts of sound," said Marko Ahtisaari. "In a world with so much noise, creating a time and place for listening is more relevant than ever."

”The structure is built in massive local timber, becoming a big instrument for sound,” said Architect Teemu Kurkela of JKMM. “I imagine myself walking into empty space, suddenly filled with sound.”

The international team behind House of Sound was brought together by Marko Ahtisaari to continue a two-decade inquiry into the art and impact of sound. Most recently Marko has served as Artistic Director of Helsinki Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in the Nordics. He programmed significant works in sound including new commissions from Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, Kaija Saariaho, Jon Hopkins, and Timo Kaukolampi, as well as exhibitions by Brian Eno and Mika Vainio: 50 Hz in collaboration with The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, the first comprehensive review of Vainio’s sound art. Previously, Marko was part of the team that commissioned the sounds for the Nokia 8800 mobile phone by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.

A temple for listening where echoes of the unheard resonate

Guests of House of Sound will be given a listening menu from the exclusive collection of sound works that can only be heard on-site. While remaining in the same space, visitors will be able to sonically teleport to unique remote locations around the world. The guest experience will begin in silence and will focus on uninterrupted, deep listening.

“Imagine encountering rare sound pieces, unattainable elsewhere, or immersing yourself in the ambient sounds of secluded corners of Earth – all of it conducting the rhythm of your daily routine," says founding Artistic Director, Aleksandra Peljin. "In the quiet setting of Akola Manor in Ii, Finland, a cultural haven is emerging – a sonic sanctuary where unheard soundscapes and faraway sounds find a voice. We are building a place where echoes of the unheard resonate."

The opening exhibition of House of Sound will be curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine. This will be the first time in over 25 years that Hans Ulrich returns to Finland to create an exhibition.

For visitors wishing to remain at House of Sound for more than a day an integral part of the experience will be staying at Akola Manor, a beautifully restored example of Gustavian architecture dating back to 1796. The food being served is grown and prepared by local producers.

"House of Sound is set to become a point of contact of art and human nature, where sound is explored in all its dimensions. It is designed to inspire an appreciation for the artistry of sound while fostering our sense of connection with nature and ourselves," says Peljin.

Artists, researchers, curators, and curious listeners can contact the House of Sound team at: info@houseofsound.fi

Materials: 1. House of Sound Image 2. Photo of Akola Manor

Akola Manor in Ii, Finland. Photo: Antti J. Leinonen. High-resolution file.