Fenix Museum Rises in Rotterdam: A Monument to Migration and Memory

Located in a 100-year-old former warehouse at Katendrecht peninsula on the south bank of the River Maas in Rotterdam’s City Harbour, renovated by MAD Architects and Bureau Polderman, the Fenix ​​museum opened in May with three different exhibitions. The Fenix ​​Museum is a significant example of the renovation and contemporary architecture of historical buildings, which includes a collection of historical and contemporary objects.

Fenix ​​is ​​a new museum in Rotterdam’s City Harbour, dedicated to a collection of historical and contemporary objects that explore migration through art. The museum, which will periodically include different collections and exhibitions, will be exhibiting over 2000 works of art in 3 exhibitions at its opening. These exhibitions are All Directions, which includes various works and objects; The Suitcase Labyrinth, which includes modern installations; and The Family of Migrants, a photography exhibition by Edward Steichen.

Design work began on this valuable project in 2018 and restoration work began in 2020. At the same time, a new urban renewal process has begun including not only the museum building but also the harbour basin in the Rijnhaven area surrounding the museum. The museum’s strategic and significant location is enhanced by its location within an urban renewal area that includes a new city park, opposite the Hotel New York and adjacent to the Rijnhavenbrug pedestrian and bicycle bridge connecting Atendrecht to the Wilhelmina Quay.

Architectural Features of Fenix ​​Museum

The Fenix ​​Museum, with an interior area of ​​16,000 square meters, has two floors. A large part of this, approximately 10,000 square meters, is reserved for public use, while the remaining areas consist of exhibitions and the central Plein. The museum’s characteristic staircase, the Tornado, extends up to 30 meters.

The original facade of the Fenix ​​building was 360 meters long in the past. However, the facade, with the preserved part now, is 172 meters.

Tornado

In a gorgeous addition to the Fenix warehouse, the museum is home to a striking architectural feature called the Tornado, a spiraling form that represents the journeys of migrants around the globe. As Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects, explains, the Tornado embodies both the Fenix’s role as a witness to Europe’s migration history and a vision of Rotterdam’s future. Standing 30 meters tall, the structure is clad in 297 stainless-steel panels crafted in Groningen. Inside, a 550-meter-long double helix wooden staircase winds upward, offering panoramic views of the Rotterdam skyline.

An important and sustainable detail added with the renovation of the building is the green roof. The importance of the green roof created with sedum plants is that it reduces the risk of flooding that the building is under threat and relieves the load on water treatment plants. The green roof, which covers a considerable area of ​​6,750 square meters, has become one of the important milestones of the project, like the Tornado staircase, which stands out with its construction techniques. In addition to sustainable approaches, the building uses a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system. A heat pump connected to the TES ensures optimum interior temperatures by utilizing an aquifer as its source.