Transformation of a national monument

The Santos warehouse was originally built as a warehouse for Brazilian coffee and has the status of a national monument. This historic building from 1903 is being transformed into the Dutch Photo Museum. The architects Renner Hainke Wirth Zirn Architekten, Hamburg and WDJArchitecten, Rotterdam created the design for this redevelopment. The top of the warehouse is covered by Metadecor with champagne-colored, aluminum MD Design perforation.

Spectacular, floating 'crown'
Initially, the German design department store Stilwerk was going to move into this beautiful building, but the Dutch Photo Museum has now taken over the building and will settle in the Santos warehouse. According to the Dutch Photo Museum, there is room for several exhibition spaces, for education, for a well-stocked photo book shop and library, a museum café on the ground floor and a restaurant on the sixth floor.

Functional facade
The design of the perforation and the panels is parametrically designed by Metadecor, so that a flat panel represents a dynamic texture. A lot of glass is used behind the facade. The warehouse offers a beautiful view of the Rotterdam skyline. The design of the facade takes privacy and sun protection into account, which contributes to climate control in the building. The distance between the glass and the MD Design perforation facade creates an air flow that removes warm air. So natural ventilation.