Nordic-style floor-to-ceiling transparent windows — Rotterdam’s stunning McDonald’s becomes a new landmark

By Rita

With its distinctly Nordic transparent exterior, no, you’re not mistaken — it’s a McDonald’s, and it’s not in Copenhagen or Stockholm, but in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Isn’t it somewhere you’d love to visit!?

▲ The most beautiful McDonald’s in Rotterdam (Photo / Mei architecten en stedenbouwers Facebook page)

McDonald’s is a classic case often explored by scholars in discussions about globalization and the penetration of American consumerism. Yet even so, many travelers find that the same brand, when entering different countries and influenced by local cultures, takes on entirely different appearances — just likethe elegance of French McDonald’s, which absolutely shocked Americans!

According to Business Insider, this “transparent McDonald’s” in Rotterdam has sparked much online discussion. Designed by the Dutch firm Mei Architects, it features a “piercing golden façade” and a “massive spiral staircase.” Originally, this eye-catching design was meant to redeem the previous McDonald’s, which local residents had dubbed “the ugliest building in Rotterdam.” In addition to its exterior, the interior also boasts leather sofa chairs and plenty of relaxing spaces.