Located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the FENIX Museum of Migration has officially entered the construction phase. Commissioned by the Droom en Daad Foundation, the project is being redesigned and transformed by MAD Architects under the direction of Ma Yansong. It will be MAD’s first completed cultural project in Europe.

Mr. Wim Pijbes, President of the Droom en Daad Foundation, is a renowned Dutch historian and former Director of the Rijksmuseum. As he explains:
“We aim to tell a story of universal significance. At some point in their lives, people decide 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 must do is understand that emotion and give it expression.”

In envisioning the FENIX Museum of Migration, the theme of “migration” is elevated into contemporary concepts of movement, diversity, and cultural exchange. MAD’s renovation and design proposal introduces a soaring silver staircase and a sculpture of seabirds, giving the historic Fenix warehouse a striking new identity.

The ground level, facing the river, is designed to integrate creative, culinary, and cultural functions revitalizing the surrounding community. The project not only preserves the site’s historical legacy but also transforms it into a catalyst for new cultural experiences.

The Fenix warehouse, slated for renovation, was originally built in 1923 and was once the largest warehouse in the world. Located on the Katendrecht Peninsula, a historically significant port of migration in Europe, it served as the departure point for millions of Europeans and was also where many Chinese migrants began their lives in Europe. Over the past century, the warehouse was destroyed during World War II and underwent multiple rounds of repair in the 1940s and 1950s. It stands as a vessel of Rotterdam’s rich and layered historical memory.

MAD’ renovation of the Fenix warehouse connects Rotterdam’s past with its present. Two spiraling silver staircases emerge from the ground, partially visible through the glass curtain wall. A light seagull sculpture perches on the corner of the building—an abstract reference to migration history and a nod to the portside setting.

MAD founder Ma Yansong explains:
“From a distance, the new staircases and viewing platform appear as an independent structure. But as you approach, it reads like a sculptural installation inviting you in to explore. It marks Fenix as a witness to Europe’s migration history while also reflecting the future of the city.”

MAD’s renovation begins with a respect for history, preserving the Fenix warehouse’s signature green steel-framed windows and its original concrete structural core. The central façade and roof have been opened up and replaced with a glass curtain wall and skylight, creating a brighter, more transparent space that is accessible and user-friendly for exhibitions.

The open interior also offers uninterrupted sightlines, allowing the newly added spiraling staircases to become a visible part of the city’s urban landscape.

The two spiraling staircases designed by MAD interweave at different speeds, extending upward through the glass roof and merging at the top to form a 360-degree viewing platform. As they twist through the space, the staircases break down the warehouse’s original, large-scale volumes and introduce a more human scale, offering visitors varied routes of exploration.

The stainless steel exterior cladding reflects the surrounding environment, while the warm wooden treads contrast with the building’s original concrete and steel structure. The material combination evokes the feeling of a ship’s interior, inviting visitors to imagine themselves—like the migrants of the past—boarding a vessel and gazing toward an unknown future.

The renovation carefully balances functional performance with integration into the surrounding urban and waterfront context. Visitors can enter the museum from either the riverfront or the city side, with flexible circulation allowing them to move directly into the exhibition halls or ascend the spiraling staircase to the rooftop platform for panoramic views of the city.

The ground level blends creative, cultural, and culinary programs, addressing diverse functional needs and bringing culture and art into everyday life.

Upon completion, the FENIX Museum of Migration will collaborate with leading local and international art institutions to present contemporary artworks and historical materials themed around “movement.” Additionally, the names and records of those who once departed from this port will be documented and made publicly accessible.

Mr. Pijbes remarked:
“A museum is a cultural phenomenon with a strict definition people have a very specific image of it in their minds. I want to find another word to describe a hybrid function: a place, a platform, a plaza.”

With the transformation of Fenix, the Katendrecht Peninsula will become a bridge connecting the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. Through diverse exhibitions and cultural programs, it will offer the public an intimate connection to history while the universally resonant theme of migration will continue to inspire reflection and dialogue.

The FENIX Museum of Migration is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion and public opening in 2024.

Fenix warehouse renovation underway. Photo: Rubén Dario Kleimeer