02-12-2019

Dutch Design Daily

1 / 16

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By

By
Mei architects and planners www.mei-arch.eu

Opening Fenix I

By 02-12-2019

The Fenix has arisen: from monumental warehouse to loft apartments and cultural hotspot.

Rotterdam gained another bold and iconic building. At a location full of history, the Fenix has arisen, and a place has been created full of life, talent, culture, creativity, entrepreneurship and architectural beauty. On Wednesday 20 November Fenix officially opened with a sensational opening ceremony for all residents, entrepreneurs and project stakeholders.

While all the guests gathered on the galleries around the courtyard and Fenix served as a true open-air theatre, Harry-Jan Bus (Walhalla) interviewed Alderman Bas Kurvers, Peter van der Gugten and Christiaan Cooiman (Heijmans) and Robert Winkel (Mei architects and planners) about the development of the area Katendrecht and Fenix I. Followed by the opening act: a spectacular production specially created for the opening and performed by the circus arts students of Codarts, kids of Circus Rotjeknor and dancers of Conny Janssen Danst.

Fenix Lofts & Docks
Fenix I comprises a mixed-use program of 45.000 m2 in total, including 212 loft apartments. The former 100-year-old warehouse contains a mixed-use program of more than 6,000 m2 of quay houses, commercial office spaces based on the loft typology, a public parking garage,  a boutique hotel, catering facilities and an extensive culture cluster.

Through the existing monumental Fenix warehouse, built in 1922, an immense steel table structure of approximately one million kilos of steel has been placed. A new concrete building has been built above that with loft apartments, which are compiled and arranged according to the wishes of the buyers. This loft concept with a high degree of flexibility and buyers’ influences is on this scale a unique concept in Europe.

The completion of the Fenix not only means a new and iconic Rotterdam icon, but also a beautiful milestone in the Katendrecht area development. From disadvantaged area to one of the most popular neighbourhoods in the world. According to the leading British magazine Time Out, Katendrecht is one of the coolest neighbourhoods of the world! Katendrecht is the only Dutch district ever to make that list. The redevelopment of Fenix not only contributed to this, but also gives a new impulse to the surrounding area and the city.

Award winning project
After winning the Architectural Review Future project award, Fenix is now nominated for the Rotterdam Architecture Prize 2019. From the 47 submissions, the jury selected the 10 best projects that splendidly illustrate the quality of architecture in Rotterdam. These projects are not only eligible for the RAP jury prize 2019 but also for the audience prize.

More Mei architects and planners > 06.06.2016 / 19.04.2017 / 19.12.2017

Photos: Ossip van Duivenbode