Strandkai Hamburg

In Hamburg’s HafenCity—one of its most attractive new neighborhoods—ingenhoven associates is building one of two 58 meter high apartment blocks with up to 75 residential units each. The practice received the commission in 2014 after it won first prize for its compelling design in an international competition. The competition had been organized in close cooperation between the Department for Urban Development and the Environment and HafenCity Hamburg GmbH.

The site, which is part of the western Strandkai peninsula, directly borders the water and provides a unique view over the Elbe River, the Philharmonie, the port, and Hamburg’s inner city. With its rhythmical facade design and the conspicuous top of the building, the apartment block will add significantly to the city skyline at the Elbe.

As a freestanding building, the new structure will be placed on raised ground. From a dwelling mound—an artificially created mound that protects the building from flooding—the site drops towards the lower level of the quay. The mound is connected with the lower quay level via large steps towards the Norderelbe. These steps are continued beneath the tower and are seamlessly integrated in the first floor, which creates a public plaza that enhances the entire promenade.

The design concept of the apartment block takes its cue from the attractive view and the connection between the inside and the outside. Every apartment has generous balconies, which means that the extensive horizon and the panoramic view of passing ships become the backdrop to life in the tower. A sight axis leading north via the Grasbrook harbor links the property with Vasco-da-Gama square and the Oval high-rise building completed by ingenhoven associates in 2008.

The external shape of the high-rise building is determined by three elements—the open, transparent first floor, the rhythm of triangular balconies, and a conspicuous arrangement of external pillars. The elongated, elegant loadbearing structure dresses the building like a crown from the roof down, thereby rendering the tower into a landmark of the HafenCity skyline.

The structure of the building allows flexible design of the layout with apartments of different sizes. Every living room has its own balcony. The core of the building is offset towards its external edges and, together with the orthogonal internal walls, this results in alternating terraces around the building. The daily effects of wind and sun are dealt with via semi-movable translucent sliding elements, so-called "windbreakers". The penthouse stories are somewhat recessed and feature duplex apartments with larger terraces compared to the other units.

The architects hope to achieve the "HafenCity Gold" environmental accolade for the building.

Completion has been scheduled for 2023.