Rotterdam, The Netherlands
MAD Architects designs panoramic viewpoint on the Fenix warehouse in Rotterdam as the firm builds first cultural building in Europe.
The Bejing-based architectural firm MAD Architects has been contracted by the Droom en Daad Foundation to design a panoramic viewpoint on top of the historic Fenix warehouse.
The Rotterdam based company Bureau Polderman is responsible for restoring the historic warehouse itself.
Founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong. MAD Architects has quickly become renowned as one of the world’s most innovative and dazzling architectural firms.
MAD Architects work is characterized by its use of organically and technologically advanced shapes in their designs. People, the city and the environment are brought together seamlessly in their buildings.
The Katendrecht peninsula, located on the southern banks in the port of Rotterdam once was one of the oldest Chinatowns in Europe.
Around the 1900’s it was here that one could find opium kits and that the first Chinese restaurant opened its doors in the Netherlands, and possibly in Europe. By choosing MAD Architects this forgotten part of history will be brought to life once more.
The commissioning of this platform on top of the Fenix warehouse II signifies the first public cultural building in Europe to be designed by a Chinese architectural agency.
In addition to the platform MAD Architects will design a theatric staircase and a public atrium in the Fenix warehouse II which will merge the ground and first floors with the platform on the roof.
The Fenix warehouse was once one of the biggest warehouses in the world.
The Katendrecht peninsula, located on the southern banks in the port of Rotterdam once was one of the oldest Chinatowns in Europe. Around the 1900’s it was here that one could find opium kits and that the first Chinese restaurant opened its doors in the Netherlands, and possibly in Europe. By choosing MAD Architects this forgotten part of history will be brought to life once more.
In addition to the platform, MAD Architects will design a theatric staircase and a public atrium in the Fenix warehouse II which will merge the ground and first floors with the platform on the roof.
In the future, the first floor will be used to highlight Rotterdam’s history.
A ship docked at the warehouse around 1925.Credit…Collection Stadsarchief Rotterdam/Municipal Archives, Rotterdam Fenix building in Rotterdam that will house the migration museum complete with MAD Architects’ spiral staircase. Image: SAN Fenix Museum of Migration by MAD Architects
Architects: MAD Architects
Historic Restoration: Bureau Polderman
Client: Droom en Daad Foundation
