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Fenix, the new international art museum exploring themes of migration through the lens of contemporary and historical art, opened to the public on 16 May 2025, on a landmark site in Rotterdam’s City Harbour. Housed in a restored historic warehouse, Fenix was reimagined by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects, the acclaimed Beijing-based architecture practice. This marks MAD’s first cultural project in Europe. The transformation is a striking centerpiece in the regeneration of Katendrecht—Rotterdam’s former red-light district and the oldest Chinatown in continental Europe.
A Historic Landmark Reborn
The 16,000 sqm Fenix II Warehouse, originally built in 1923, was once part of the world’s largest warehouse complex and served as a vital hub for the Holland America Line. From these docks, millions of migrants set out for the Americas in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The building has been restored in consultation with Bureau Polderman and now includes “The Tornado”, a dramatic double-helix staircase and architectural centerpiece that rises organically through …
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Image above: Fenix view of Tornado from water level, artist impression, © MAD Architects.
