The Dutch Droom en Daad Foundation announced that it has commissioned Beijing MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, to renovate Fenix ​​in Rotterdam. The Foundation plans to transform Fenix ​​into the Rotterdam Immigration Museum, making it a public space for people to enjoy the city scenery and learn about the history of Rotterdam's immigration. The first step of MAD's renovation design is to design a full-view viewing platform for Fenix ​​that overlooks the city of Rotterdam, as well as a corridor staircase connecting the ground, building floors and the viewing platform.

The Dutch Droom en Daad Foundation announced that it has commissioned Beijing MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, to renovate Fenix ​​in Rotterdam. The Foundation plans to transform Fenix ​​into the Rotterdam Immigration Museum, making it a public space for people to enjoy the city scenery and learn about the history of Rotterdam's immigration. The first step of MAD's renovation design is to design a full-view viewing platform for Fenix ​​that overlooks the city of Rotterdam, as well as a corridor staircase connecting the ground, building floors and the viewing platform.

Fenix ​​is ​​a famous historical building in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It was built in 1923 and was once the largest warehouse in the world. The Katendrecht Peninsula on the south bank of the Port of Rotterdam where it is located is a famous gateway for population migration in European history due to its geographical location. Since the mid-to-late 19th century, it has been an offshore departure point for Europeans to migrate overseas. Millions of Europeans have immigrated overseas by ship (most of them ended up at Ellis Island in the United States); it is also a place where Chinese people arrived in Europe and was once the location of one of the earliest Chinatowns in the Netherlands and even in Europe.

The staircase designed by MAD runs through the ground and the building floors, and finally leads directly to the observation deck. The staircase and the observation deck are connected as one. From a close look, the whole looks like a sculpture, attracting people to explore; from a distance, it looks like a tornado, rising from the core of the earth to the sky, and finally disappearing into the sky, as if echoing that this building has witnessed the past, present and future of the Netherlands and even Europe.

Regarding this cooperation, Ma Yansong said, "The past, present and future of Fenix ​​are fascinating and thought-provoking. After this vibrant transformation, I hope people can travel through this building and appreciate this interesting historical community." Wim Pijbes, president of the Droom en Daad Foundation, said, "Fenix ​​will be a landmark building for the millions of people who leave Europe from here and come here every day in the future. She will allow us to look back at the history of Rotterdam in the future." (Wim Pijbes is a famous Dutch historian and former director of the Rijksmuseum.)

Fenix ​​Immigration Museum Rotterdam is MAD’s first cultural project in Europe. Partner Bureau Polderman will be responsible for the restoration of the building. The overall renovation is expected to start construction in 2020.

Immigration Museum Rotterdam
Rotterdam, Netherlands
2018 - 2021

Site area: 8,100 square meters
Owner: Droom en Daad Foundation
Leading partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano
Design team: Andrea D’Antrassi, Marco Gastoldi, Neeraj Mahajan, Edgar Navarrete, Jordan Demer