Elbtower Zucker und Salz Proposal
The connection between Hamburg as a Welthafen and the world
2017
Introduction
The Elbtower is a mixed-use skyscraper of two towers in Hamburg, Germany. Planned to be situated in the Elbbrücken quarter, at the intersection between Freihafenbrücke and Elbbrücke, the building provides accessibility to the city and the harbor side, as well as excellent views and sun conditions while connecting the sea and the inland waterway.
Technical details
DIP (Die Deutsche Immobilien Projektentwicklung AG)
Salt – a crystalline aesthetic
The outer layer of the building represents the "salt," reflecting the sky and sea with its marine, crystalline materiality. The building's silhouette inscribes itself brightly and generously into its local context, adding a new aesthetic layer to the identity of the city of Hamburg.
The facades facing the city are composed of two skins that help provide good living qualities and minimize the effect of noise and wind. The inner skin will be made out of glass and white anodized aluminum panels. The glass will be primarily clear but with some frosted or fritted areas.
The external skin is full-height prefabricated glass panels alternating between flat, convex, and concave skewed pyramids. There are a variety of finishes, ranging from clear glass to semi-transparent and opaque units – all in shades of white. The overall effect will be a crystalline surface that reacts to the quality and intensity of daylight.
Sugar – a generous space
The building's inner design and public space are shaped by the concept of "sugar," referencing the building's generosity and openness to the community of Hamburg and the individual citizens. This space is an oasis protected from noise, wind, and pollution, with a high degree of vegetation, lawns, and water features providing a variety of quality exterior spaces.
Sustainability through passive and active measures
Being committed to designing structures that maximize on-site energy production, the building was planned to be CO2-negative and produce energy.
To achieve this, the building is strategically designed to reduce the amount of shadow cast from the largest tower of the skyscraper over the rest of the building and to maximize the number of facades with integrated photovoltaic ventilation.
In addition, to maximize solar exposure and reduce noise, a wind power plant is designed at the tower's highest point. With its three integrated turbines, the wind power plant is oriented to take advantage of the prevailing wind from the West Southwest.