David Chipperfield wins Elbtower competition in Hamburg

David Chipperfield Architects Berlin has been chosen to design Hamburg's future tallest building, the Elbtower. At 230 meters, the structure will become a recognizable accent on the city's skyline and is expected to act as a counterpoint to the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Elbphilharmonie on the other end of the Hafencity district.

From David Chipperfield Architects: "Situated on an exposed riverside site near the well-known Elbbrücken, this new mixed-use building acts as an entrance marker on the eastern edge of the Hafencity quarter [...]. Occupying a triangular plot at the point where the River Elbe and Oberhafen canal converge, the site offers the opportunity to create a freestanding, sculpted building. The building complements and contrasts with the form of the Elbphilharmonie, rising as a tapered tower above a public atrium."

A statement from SIGNA, the developing company behind the project, reads: "The jury was impressed with the fact that the design by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin fits in very well with Hamburg’s architectural culture and famous city silhouette. Consisting of architects, city planners and real estate professionals, the jury unanimously voted for the design by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin."

Project Details:

Builder: SIGNA Prime Selection AG
Architect: David Chipperfield Architects Berlin
Height of the building: 233.30 m (more than 8.70 m above mean sea level)
Total investment amount: around EUR 700 million
Property size: 21,055 sm
Start of construction (planned): Early 2021
Completion (planned): Mid-2025