MAD designs dance center inside 1920s Art Deco warehouse in Rotterdam

MAD Architects has revealed designs for Danshuis, a new dance center planned for Rotterdam’s historic docklands. Scheduled to open in 2030, the scheme will occupy a 1923 Art Deco warehouse on the south bank of the River Maas.

Located adjacent to the firm’s recently completed Fenix Museum of Migration, Danshuis will transform the 95,000-square-foot former warehouse into a center for the production, development, and presentation of dance. The institution is intended to accommodate both professional and amateur programs spanning multiple dance disciplines.

The plans include 14 dance studios alongside an open podium, gym, exhibition space, and cafe. A rooftop Salle des Fêtes will accommodate larger public programs while providing views across Rotterdam’s harbor.

The design of the scheme organizes the building around a vertical foyer connecting the various levels with the rooftop venue. Outdoor spaces will also extend toward the Riv...