China’s MAD Architects has unveiled its plan to transform a former warehouse on the waterfront of Rotterdam’s Maas river into a space for the Netherlands’ Droom en Daad dance foundation.
Danshuis (the Dance House) will contain studios, theatres, exhibition spaces and a Roman-style rooftop amphitheater.
The design also has a yellow seagull sculpture on a landscaped terrace on the second floor.
The project is created for local and international artists to practise and perform all dance styles. It will be located next to the Fenix Museum of Migration, also designed by MAD.
Ma Yansong, MAD’s founder, said: “Dance is a flowing art of space. To emphasis that and respect the locality and history of the building, we decided to make minimum change to the original structure, just to add art installations in conversation with the environment.
“We hope to highlight Rotterdam’s yearning for freedom and embracing of diverse global cultures. The Fenix Museum of Migration and the Danshuis are closely linked and will also look to the future together in Rotterdam’s century-old port.”
Construction on Danshuis is due to begin shortly.
