html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" MAD has completed its first cultural project in Europe - today, the Fenix Museum, a brand-new international art museum focused on migration, has opened to the public on a historic location in Rotterdam's City Harbour.  Ma Yansong of MAD Architects, the globally recognized Beijing-based architectural firm, is housed in a renovated historic warehouse. It is the focal point of the revitalization of Katendrecht, a neighborhood by the harbor that was once the location of the oldest Chinatown in continental Europe and Rotterdam's red-light district.MAD Architects completed the building in collaboration with the Droom en Daad Foundation.Image  © Iwan Baan"When MAD Architects was asked to work on Fenix, we knew we had to create a dialogue with the existing building and its surroundings—and with a past containing so many stories of migration, memories, and uncertainty," said Ma Yansong, Founder and Principal Architect of MAD.The 16,000-square-meter structure, which dates back to 1923, was formerly a section of the world's largest warehouse and was crucial to the shipping and storage of the Dutch cargo and passenger line Holland America Line. In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of migrants arrived and left from the nearby docks, made their journeys easier by the Holland America Line.Image  © Iris van den BroekCalled Fenix, it is the first cultural project of MAD architects in Europe. Its architectural masterwork, the Tornado, a dynamic, organic structure reminiscent of rising air, will be visible to visitors right away. Starting from the ground floor, this double-helix staircase ascends and exits the rooftop onto an observation platform that is suspended over the city. Visitors will be treated to breathtaking views of Hotel New York, the former Holland America Line headquarters, and the River Maas.Image  © Iwan BaanThe 2,275-square-meter Plein on the bottom level of Fenix is designed to resemble an indoor city plaza. It will be free for everyone and curated for and with Rotterdam's diverse communities, providing a platform for interaction and communication. Throughout the year, it will feature community gatherings, performances, large-scale events, and investigations of other culinary cultures. There will be a kiosk where guests can purchase a drink or snack and browse newspapers from around the globe.Image  © Iwan BaanRetail and dining options at the museum include Granucci Gelato, a gelateria on the museum's quayside that serves award-winning artisanal ice cream made by the Granucci family, who have been making gelato in the Netherlands since 1929, and O Café and Bakery, which is run by Michelin-starred Turkish chef Maksut Aşkar. With views of the city, the Espresso Bar is situated in the museum's first-floor exhibition area. The museum store, which is situated in the main entrance area, offers food, games, dinnerware, and other products to make visitors feel at home and included.Image  © Iwan Baan"Migration stories are the heartbeat of Fenix. We've woven them into every element - whether it's the magic of Ma Yansong’s architecture, the memories evoked by the artworks on display, the freely accessible Plein, or the gelateria by the Granucci family. We want everyone to feel welcome," said Anne Kremers, Director of Fenix."Fenix is funded by the Droom en Daad Foundation, founded in 2016 and led by Wim Pijbes, former Director of the Rijksmuseum. The Droom en Daad Foundation is helping redefine Rotterdam for the 21st century – developing new kinds of arts and culture institutions and fostering new creative talent that reflects the city’s diversity, its spirit and its history," Kremers.All Directions Installation View with Kimsooja's Bottari Truck. Image © Iwan BaanThe museum was opened with three exhibitions: "All Directions" showcases over 150 artworks and objects ranging from the historical to the contemporary, drawn from the Fenix collection and acquired over the past five years.The second exhibition is "The Family of Migrants", inspired by Edward Steichen’s Family of Man, one of the most famous photographic exhibitions of all time, which was first shown at MoMA in 1955. Fenix The Family of Migrants installation view. Photography © Iwan BaanThe last exhibition is "The Suitcase Labyrinth", a monumental interactive installation made up of 2,000 donated suitcases thatbrings to life a collection of personal histories from countries, cultures and communities from around the world. Completed Structure Review. Still From The Documentary Ma Yansong: Journey to Design the Fenix Tornado, courtesy of MADInterior Walkthrough. Still From The Documentary Ma Yansong: Journey to Design the Fenix Tornado, courtesy of MADInterior View. Photograph © Wilbert ZuiderduinOpening and Documentary, Fenix at Dusk. Image © Gregg TelussaMAD also revealed photos of the bird-like LIJ Airport nearing completion in the foothill valleys of Lishui, China. In addition, the firm revealed a mixed-use tower that features a cracked-open canyon in the heart of Denver, Colorado, United States. The top image in the article © Iwan Baan.> via MAD