Sauerbruch Hutton's Winning Entry for BSU Hamburg Competition

Earlier this fall, Sauerbruch Hutton was announced first prize winner in the international competition to design a new home for Hamburg’s Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt/BSU (Office for Urban Development and Environment). The new BSU building will be erected in Hamburg Wilhelmsburg and is slated for completion in 2013.

The design entry by the Berlin-based practice lastly won over 24 other design teams in the first round of the competition and three in the second round (comprising rasmussen | brunke | sauer, Behnisch Architects and GAP).

Here is a description from Sauerbruch Hutton:

The new building for Hamburg’s Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt/BSU (Office for Urban Development and Environment) consists of one high rise and two wing buildings. Public BSU facilities, like areas for exhibitions and restaurants, are located in the street level floors. The foot of the high rise structure will house a central lobby. Like an amphitheater, it is envisioned to host the exhibition of Hamburg’s urban model which will be highly visible through the large glass facade. From here, the library and conference center can be accessed as well.

Besides the high rise, the concept is structured in seven separate ‘houses’ which are connected via an access ‘road’ that is lit with natural light. Each house has its own open staircase atrium which enhances easy orientation, efficient vertical access, good distribution of natural light into interior spaces, and natural cross-ventilation. Reducing the building’s energy consumption by combining passive and active measures was one of the key ideas behind the concept. Besides enhanced thermal insulation, reasonable transparency, and protection from intense sunlight in the facades, the compact building volume uses renewable resources like natural lighting, natural cross-ventilation, and sun-powered heating. Energy harvested from geothermal and solar equipment is being combined with a gas-powered combined heat and power unit.

The design of the building’s spaces and surfaces supports the quantitatively measurable comfort with an architectural and environmental quality that is appropriate for the agenda of sustainability.

Images: Sauerbruch Hutton