Hamburg Philharmonic,
designed by Herzog & de Meuron
The Elbphilharmonie, erected by the Herzog & de Meuron office, waited 10 years to open. During this time, construction costs rose at a dizzying pace. They eventually amounted to 866 million euros, many times the original budget of 50 million. When construction came to an end, Hamburg residents could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Elbphilharmonie - the philharmonic hall in Hamburg on the Elbe River
Photo by Ruedi Walti © Herzog & de Meuron
The new heart of HafenCity
The official opening of the building took place in 2017. The Hamburg Philharmonic was built on the site of a former imperial granary, which was used to store tea, tobacco and cocoa at the turn of the 20th century. The building was destroyed during World War II. The Elbphilharmonie became the focal point of the renovated HafenCity district, transformed by the city into a welcoming space to live and work. As a result, an area that most Hamburgers were familiar with, but had previously overlooked, has become the new heart of social, cultural and everyday life - both for Hamburgers and visitors from around the world.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - a bird's eye view of the building block
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
a dialogue between past and present
The philharmonic building consists of two distinctly separate segments. Additional floors have been erected on the preserved part of the former granary, distinguished by a cladding of glass - the precisely curved panes create a striking wall. The red brick emphasizes the historical base of the granary, while the glass covering, reflecting the sky by day and the lights of surrounding buildings by night, signals a contemporary reinterpretation of the 19th-century structure.
Originally constructed to carry thousands of heavy bags of cocoa beans, today it uses its solid structure to support the new Philharmonic. The potential and strength of the old building has been adapted to bear the weight of the new structure erected on top of it
- the architects add.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - a view of the building block
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
Waving roof over Hamburg
andglass weighing tons
The new edifice "grows" out of the shape of the former warehouse, replicating its base projection and integrating the brick block of the historic building. In the upper and lower parts, however, the structure gains a different character. The wave-shaped roof rises gradually - from the lower eastern end to the highest point, reaching 108 meters at Kaispitze, the edge of the peninsula. The building's glass facade consists of 1,100 elements, each four to five meters wide and three meters high. In the area of the main foyer, the height of the panes increases to five meters. The panels have been carefully formed and tempered at 600°C, which protects the facade from overheating under constant sunlight. Small fragments of dark-toned basalt were fused into the glass structure. Each piece was then matched to a specific part of the building, giving it the right shape. The weight of a single panel is about 1.2 tons, and the cost of its manufacture reaches 20 thousand euros. The total area of the glazing is 16 thousand square meters - the equivalent of two full-size football fields.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - a close-up view of the building's glass facade
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
architecture 's nautical inspiration
The shape of the edifice brings to mind a sail battered by the wind or waves agitated by a storm. If we follow the latter notion, the roof covered with shiny white panels can be associated with sea foam floating on the mane of the waves. Such associations seem natural in the context of Hamburg, Germany's largest port.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - first floor plan
© Herzog & de Meuron
A terrace overlooking the city
A 4,000-square-meter publicly accessible viewing terrace was located between the historic and contemporary parts of the building. It offers a full 360-degree panoramic view of Hamburg. The concept of openness and accessibility also extends to the foyers of the concert and chamber music halls - these spaces are available to all visitors, regardless of whether they have a concert ticket.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - terrace overlooking the city
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
travel by escalator
The building is accessed by an 82-meter escalator, housed in a tunnel of spherical form, finished with glass elements. The surface reflects light, creating a dynamic play of reflections. The curved geometry of the tunnel deliberately limits the visibility of the end point of the route, building an effect of gradual discovery of the space. The journey ends in the main lobby.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - an 82-meter escalator leads to the building
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
acoustics at the highest level
The main concert hall reaches 50 meters in height - almost as high as a 15-story building. The interior acoustics are shaped by a special coating. This advanced material was developed by Yasuhisa Toyota in cooperation with architects from Herzog & de Meuron. The panel system, made of gypsum fibers and recycled paper, was designed with precise accuracy. Each element corresponds to the specific acoustic parameters of a given surface. Despite the advanced manufacturing technology, the structure of the panels gives the impression of craftsmanship, and their irregular form gives the space an organic feel.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - the main acoustic hall
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
multifunctional philharmonic complex
In addition to the main concert hall with a seating capacity of 2,100, the Hamburg Philharmonic complex includes a chamber hall, a space dedicated to contemporary and experimental music concerts, a multi-level parking garage for 500 cars, a hotel, exclusive apartments and restaurants. The entire structure rises to a height of 110 meters.
The Philharmonic is reminiscent of the typology of football stadiums we have designed in recent years, aiming to create an almost interactive proximity between spectators and players.
- emphasize the architects.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - first floor
Photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
crystal splendor over water
In this new urban space, one feels more breathable - thanks to the vast expanse of water and the monumental scale of the ocean liners. The glass facade, partly composed of curved panels, some of which are artistically cut, transforms the building into a giant, sparkling crystal. Its appearance constantly changes, reflecting the sky, the water and the city - inviting you to look at it again and again.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany - a view of the building
photo by Ivan Baan © Herzog & de Meuron
two narratives, one whole
Two distinct architectural narratives meet in this project: the austere Kaispeicher granary and the modern philharmonic, together creating a coherent, multidimensional space. The Kaispeicher is distinguished by its original character, strongly rooted in the port context - a nod to the site's history and function. The Philharmonic Hall, on the other hand, introduces a refined aesthetic, opening up a perspective on modernity.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron studio.
