Amazing and Magical! A Tale of the Birth of Chappe

2.10-28.2.2027

2 October 2026 – 28 February 2027 Kromosom space (Cellar)

“As I walked along the streets in Ekenäs, I found that block to be interesting enough, but I thought that it could be even more interesting. The idea is that it will be striking in the best sense of the word.” Albert de la Chapelle

In 2016, Albert de la Chapelle (1933–2020) suggested to Dan Lindholm, the Director of Västra Nylands museum (Provincial Museum of Western Uusimaa), that he might be willing to support the building of a new art museum in the centre of Ekenäs. This marked the beginning of the art museum project, and Albert’s wife, Professor Clara D. Bloomfield (1942–2020), also contributed to the planning. The primary target of the Albert de la Chapelle Art Foundation is to realize a successful art museum. In 2018, the Art Foundation announced a design contest, which was won by JKMM Architects.

The exhibition showcases the life and career of Albert de la Chapelle, describes the origin and growth of his art and antique silver collection, and tells the story of Chappe. The exhibition presents an extensive timeline of Albert de la Chapelle’s life, as well as the history and development of the cultural quarter in Ekenäs. A documentary video produced by dlc media delves into Albert’s life, utilising archive material and interviews to seek the person behind his achievements. The documentary is available to view at the museum and on Chappe’s YouTube channel.

In the section describing the building phases of Chappe, head planner, architect Asmo Jaaksi, and architect Jenni Reuter, the chairperson of the architectural competition jury, share their thoughts. The section also includes a time-lapse video showing the progress of the construction work, as well as the original architectural drawings and scale model by JKMM Architects.