Berliner Bogen

The new Berliner Bogen office building at Hamburg’s Anckelmannsplatz
appears to float above the water: Approximately 140m long, the building
spans across the end of a kilometer long flood basin, and thereby
generates valuable land for development, within the city. Parabolically
formed curved steel arches, resting on both banks, rise to a height of
around 36m above the canal. The building is concieved as being a “building within a building”: a massive inner core offering more than
1200 workplaces within it’s 32 000 sqare metres, housed within a glass
skin, which encloses the comb-like form. Not only is the unusual
construction visually impressive, but it also reduces energy
consumption: the buffer zones between core and skin allow for natural
ventilation within the office spaces, and contribute to the halving of
the heating costs. Within the building, six glazed wintergardens
contribute to the relaxation of the employees and provide space for
exhibitions or parties. With it’s unusual appearance, it’s well
considered spatial zones and it’s modern energy concept, the building
forms a strong gesture as a gateway connecting water and city.
(text from architects’ website)