Inaugurated on May 16th, the Fenix Museum "is not simply a museum, it's a journey. A journey to the heart of the human experience where the universal theme of migration is explored through the prism of art." Behind the words of Anne Kremers, director of the Fenix Museum, one senses the emotional ambition of the place: to immerse visitors in a stylistic migratory odyssey of humanity!
To draw a link between past and present
To explore migratory histories, the Fenix Museum chose to house itself in the heart of a historic warehouse overlooking the port of Rotterdam. Over 360 meters long, this monumental 16-square-meter reinforced concrete building was constructed in 1923 by the architect Cornelis Nicolaas van Goor. It initially served as a storage and transshipment facility for the Holland America Line, a Dutch freight and passenger transport company. For it was precisely from these docks that, from the late 000th century onward, ships departed.e In the 20th century, millions of people traveled to America and Canada, including Albert Einstein, Willem de Kooning, and Max Beckmann, and countless others were welcomed. This historically rich location has shaped the multicultural and dynamic character of Rotterdam, a city of 170 nationalities!
A spectacular architectural metamorphosis
Rebuilt as two separate buildings following a bombing and fire in the 1950s, Fenix II has undergone an extraordinary transformation under the expert eye of MAD Architects.
Entrusted to the Polderman firm, the restoration of the 172-meter-long façade required a year and a half of work to update all of its architectural details. Beyond cleaning by blasting and applying stucco and cement, the façade was enhanced with a serene rhythm of columns and windows, accentuating the building's horizontal aspect. But the highlight is undoubtedly The Tornado, an architectural feat in polished steel that gives the building its futuristic character. As its name suggests, this tornado takes the form of a double-helix staircase evoking rising air, ascending from the ground floor and rising above the roof to an exterior platform offering a spectacular panoramic view of Rotterdam, some 24 meters above the ground. But before reaching the summit, one must climb no fewer than 336 steps over a distance of 550 meters…
Addressing the theme of migration through the lens of art
Dedicated to the universal theme of migration, the Fenix Museum provides international artists with a unique platform to reinterpret and share their personal experiences with the world. From Steve McQueen's poignant reflections and Rineke Dijkstra's intimate portraits to Shilpa Gupta's powerful statement on borders, Fenix showcases thousands of stories interwoven with love, disappointment, the search for a place to call home, and the relentless pursuit of happiness. These narratives are expressed through various media, including the impressive Suitcase Labyrinth, an immersive installation created using thousands of suitcases donated to the museum, each accompanied by a personal migration story. From large leather trunks adorned with accessories to small dented suitcases, via hatboxes or backpacks, so many migratory routes between hope and homesickness to be taken with their former owners…
Fenix
Paul Nijghkade 5, Rotterdam
