Museum dedicated to human migration designed by MAD to open in Rotterdam

The Fenix Museum of Migration, located in the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, will be MAD Architects' first cultural project in Europe. The 16,000 square meter museum will rise in what was one of the world's largest warehouses in the early 1900s, owned by the Holland-America Line, in the historic port district of Rotterdam on the Katendrecht peninsula, undergoing a radical transformation by Ma Yansong, the founder of MAD.

The central volume, shaped like a spiral and called Tornado, is an organic structure symbolizing migrations. As visitors ascend the staircase, winding from the ground to form an observatory, they can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and the Maas River.

The Fenix will be dedicated to exploring the global history of migrations through art, architecture, photography, and history. Inside, it will feature extensive exhibition spaces arranged on two floors. The collection will also include works specially commissioned from emerging artists such as Beya Gille Gacha, Efrat Zehavi, Chae Eun Rhee, Raquel Van Haver, and Hugo McCloud. The project is expected to be completed by 2025.