Project Info
Project Name: Tornado - Fenix Museum
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Architects: MAD Architects & EGM architects
Contractors: Dura Vermeer
Consultants: De Bosman Bedrijven, IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, LBP Sight B.V.
In May 2025, Rotterdam welcomed a striking new cultural landmark with the opening of Fenix Museum, set within the fully transformed Fenix Warehouse II on Katendrecht. At its heart stands the Tornado, a shimmering observation tower designed by MAD Architects and realised in close collaboration with EGM architects. Rising above the historic harbour, the Tornado is more than an architectural statement - it is a symbol of resilience, migration, and renewal.
Building on History
The site carries a weight of history. Once known as the San Francisco Warehouse, Fenix II was Rotterdam’s largest and most vital transhipment warehouse, a gateway for millions who either departed Europe or arrived to begin new lives. Its layered past resonates deeply in the present. The restoration, led by Bureau Polderman, carefully returned the building to its 1950s character while addressing major structural challenges such as subsiding foundations and uneven levels. By deploying innovative methods - lightweight concrete floors, precision modelling, and even the removal and replacement of building elements - the team preserved the authenticity of the original structure while preparing it for a new life as a cultural hub.
The Tornado rises above Fenix Warehouse II, a gleaming new landmark on Rotterdam’s skyline
Engineering innovations - including lightweight concrete floors and advanced modelling - enabled preservation of the historic structure
The Tornado: A Metaphor in Motion
Piercing through the roof and encased in mirrored stainless steel, the Tornado captures the imagination at first sight. Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects, describes it as “a metaphor for the journey of a migrant.” Its swirling staircases, glass platforms, and sculptural form invite visitors to ascend both physically and symbolically - moving through stories of departure, belonging, and identity. Inside, the museum’s exhibitions on migration unfold beneath a luminous atrium canopy, creating a setting for reflection and dialogue across cultures and generations.
Swirling staircases and glass platforms inside the Tornado invite visitors to ascend through stories of migration
Careful restoration returned the warehouse to its 1950s style while preparing it for a new public role
Craftsmanship and Technology
The Tornado’s creation was a feat of inventive engineering and artisanal precision. Its spaceframe, comprising thousands of unique steel parts, was crafted with millimetre accuracy, while the seamless mirrored cladding reflects Rotterdam’s changing skies. Advanced systems for expansion and contraction ensure durability, while every staircase and platform has been designed with both elegance and accessibility in mind. The result is a technical masterpiece that embodies collaboration between international visionaries and local craftspeople.
Thousands of unique steel parts form the Tornado’s intricate spaceframe, combining precision engineering with artisanal skill
A New Urban Perspective
At 30 metres tall, clad in a gleaming skin, the Tornado transforms Fenix into a beacon on the Maas riverfront. The museum not only revitalises Katendrecht but also reinforces Rotterdam’s identity as a city of innovation rooted in its seafaring past. As critic Edwin Heathcote wrote in the Financial Times: “The first thing to say is that the gallery spaces are sensational. I seriously doubt any architect could have built from scratch anything better.”
A Place for People
Beyond its architectural daring, Fenix was designed to welcome all. The museum’s new lobby, plaza, and rooftop gardens offer open, communal spaces, while thoughtful details - wide staircases, anti-slip surfaces, and generous circulation routes - prioritise comfort and safety. Anne Kremers, Director of Fenix, emphasises its mission: “Fenix gives voice to the stories and experiences of migrants from all over the world. The story of Fenix is the story of Rotterdam, the world, and of you.”
The new lobby and rooftop gardens at Fenix create welcoming spaces for gathering and reflection
Co-architectural Collaboration
Since 2018, EGM has played a pivotal role as co-architect, overseeing the detailing of the warehouse transformation, the technical development of the Tornado, and the design of the new museum lobby. Through full BIM modelling, the practice coordinated all partners and phases - from concept to execution - ensuring that the project integrated heritage with cutting-edge design and construction technology.
Where history meets the future - Fenix Warehouse II redefined with a sculptural tower
A Beacon for the Future
The opening of Fenix is more than an architectural achievement - it is a cultural milestone. By fusing heritage, technology, and human stories, the museum offers Rotterdam and its visitors a new place to connect, remember, and look ahead. The Tornado, rising as a luminous metaphor above the old warehouse, embodies this union of past and future, making Fenix not only a museum but a living landmark on the city’s skyline.
Photo Credit: Iris van den Broek
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