Fenix: Shaping a Tornado Structure in a Structured, Integral Approach

The centerpiece Fenix, the world’s first art museum about migration, in Rotterdam will be the Tornado. It is a walkway leading to an observation deck, designed by MAD architects. The complex shape asked for an innovative structure that fulfills aesthetic as well as safety and comfort demands. The structure is composed of a spaceframe constructed from double curved circular tubes, covered in stainless steel cladding. This paper will give an explanation of the structural design, with a focus on the integration of various disciplines. From the start, the steel contractor and skin supplier were involved in the project. It will be explained how the design evolved from sketch to execution design, integrating various models in Grasshopper and Rhino and using various computational tools like SCIA Engineer and Ansys. Furthermore, an explanation will be given of the fabrication and construction process, giving an insight in the construction challenges.