Elbtower

The construction site at the Elbe bridges is one of the most striking locations in HafenCity Hamburg. A new urban landmark was to be created here in the form of the Elbtower, which would characterise the cityscape and at the same time have supra-regional appeal. The brief was for a mixed-use ensemble of buildings with a sculptural effect, visible from all directions. The architectural and utilisation concept was to be based on the key themes of HafenCity – proportion of open space, mixed use and sustainability.

Waterbound Real Estate GmbH was responsible for the development of the utilisation concept and the service development services for the competition entry. Together with the internationally renowned architecture firm gmp, this resulted in the design of the so-called ‘Tide Tower’ – a concept that picks up on Hamburg’s maritime identity and architecturally interprets the special location between the Elbe bridges, the harbour and the new railway stations.

The sculpturally shaped building ensemble envisaged two towers of different heights, connected by horizontal building sections. The construction is based on an innovative steel construction method with a modern steel and glass façade that traces the supporting structure and makes the special urban location visible.

The utilisation concept developed by WBRE combined a variety of functions such as areas for entertainment, gastronomy, retail, services, hotel business with conference areas, wellness and sports facilities as well as a publicly accessible Skygarden.