MAD's first completed cultural project in Europe, Fenix officially opened on May 15, 2025, in Rotterdam’s historic port district.

Conceptual Sketch by Ma Yansong

Rotterdam is one of Europe’s most prominent immigrant cities, home to residents from over 170 countries and regions. Historically, it was also a major departure point for millions of Europeans embarking for North America.

The 1940 bombing of Rotterdam leveled its city center, setting the stage for the arrival of countless world-renowned architects and turning the city into a global epicenter of contemporary architecture.

Since 2016, the Droom en Daad Foundation has partnered with the Rotterdam municipal government to advance urban cultural renewal initiatives. In 2018, the foundation appointed MAD to redesign the historic Fenix warehouse into the Fenix.

A ship docked in front of the Fenix warehouse, circa 1925

© Rotterdam City Archives

Historic Photo of the Fenix Warehouse © Rotterdam City Archives

MAD has transformed this century-old warehouse into a cultural landmark that fuses past and present, honoring the journeys of millions of migrants.

“Everything is in motionpeople, time, light, the sea…” says Ma Yansong. “This building allows us to reimagine reunion and farewell, and to reflect again on the reasons we choose to depart.”

MAD’s renovation began with a deep respect for history preserving the warehouse’s rugged original structure, restored by Bureau Polderman. The central roof was opened up to introduce natural light, while a dramatic tornado-shaped spiral staircase was inserted, creating a striking new centerpiece.

The staircases intertwine and support one another, forming a structural system that weaves together at times overlapping, at times separating.

If the path leading to the rooftop observation platform symbolizes a journey, then along this path, people encounter others, reflect on themselves, and make choices at each intersection.

Ultimately, they meet at the summit overlooking the stunning cityscape and riverside of Rotterdam, as if floating above the sea.

It is a journey about freedom, the unknown, and hope.

The outer surface of the staircase is clad in silver stainless steel, curved and polished through CNC technology. Its reflections capture moving visitors, the bustling port, and the shifting sky turning them into part of the architecture and infusing the once-industrial structure with a vibrant, humanistic spirit.

Wim Pijbes, President of the Droom en Daad Foundation, shared: “We aim to tell stories of universal meaning. At some point in life, people make the decision whether due to war, poverty, religion, or other reasons to pack everything they own into one or two suitcases and start over on the other side of the world… What we need to do is understand those emotions and give them expression.”

“Migration, in a narrow sense, describes the relocation of families and individuals. But more broadly, it is about the movement and flow of populations,” said Ma Yansong. “Much of the world’s political, geopolitical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are shaped by this movement. We hope this museum is not only a place to remember the past or recount hardship but more importantly, a space to see hope and courage, and to inspire people today and in the future to look ahead.”

Fenix Opening Ceremony, image source: Internet

Fenix’s growing collection of art and historical objects alongside commissioned works by renowned and emerging artists from around the world is displayed in an open-layout exhibition space. Visitors moving through the installations become part of the artwork themselves.

The building’s rooftop is covered by 6,750 square meters of greenery, enhancing thermal insulation and significantly reducing energy consumption. The landscape design also allows rainwater to be stored within the plant substrate layer, enabling natural transpiration to drive a sustainable water cycle.

The ground floor on the east side of the building has been transformed into a “Civic Plaza,” open to the public year-round and free of charge. It hosts a wide range of community activities from culinary and cultural explorations to gatherings, performances, and exchange programs—serving as an open stage for urban life.

Anne Kremers, Director of the Fenix Museum, remarked: “Fenix is both a microcosm of Rotterdam’s diverse communities and a mirror of global migration history. Through the prism of art, it reflects the collective memory and emotional experiences of human migration.”

MAD seeks to embody the concept of balance through its work between new and old, motion and stillness each distinct yet interdependent, reflecting an Eastern philosophy of harmony.

Fenix Museum
Rotterdam, Netherlands
2018 – 2025

Type: Renovation, Museum
Site Area: 8,000 m²
Total Interior Floor Area: 16,000 m² over two levels
Publicly Accessible Area: 10,509 m² (excluding tornado staircase)
Total Building Height: 30 meters
Number of Floors: 2

Lead Partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano
Associate Partner: Andrea D’Antrassi
Design Team: Alessandro Fisalli, Neeraj Mahajan, Marco Gastoldi, Edgar Navarrete, Cievanard Nattabowonphal, Jordan Demer, Chen Yien, Yuki Ishigami, Pittayapa Suriyapee, Claudia Hertrich, Gianluca Rovere, Antonio Laruffa, Nika Gasimbeyli, Paolo Pirri, Anna Spaggiari, Julian Salvadori

Client: Droom en Daad Foundation
Architectural Design: MAD Architects
Heritage Restoration: Bureau Polderman
Executive Architect: EGM
Engineering Consultant: IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs
Steel Structure Engineer: CSM Steel Structures
Cladding Engineer: Central Industry Group (CIG)
Lighting Consultant: Beersnielsen Lichtontwerpers
MEP Design: Bosman Bedrijven
MEP Consultant: DWA
Structural Physics Consultant: LBP Sight
Anti-Glare Design: RFR
Photography: Iwan Baan, Presence Architecture, Hufton+Crow