Willy Brandt Strasse Hamburg | Christ & Gantenbein

In the heart of Hamburg, Christ & Gantenbein has completed a new office and resi- dential building, positioned between one of the city’s many water canals and the prominent Willy-Brandt-Strasse. Drawing inspiration from the city’s maritime past, the project seeks to capture the essence of Hamburg while responding to both the historic Fleet houses and the surrounding contemporary architecture. With its con- crete frame clad in locally sourced, handmade brick, the building oscillates between traditional craftsmanship and abstract sculptural form. This contemporary interpretation of Hamburg’s rich building tradition gives a new impulse to the urban development of the surrounding area and the adjacent Hopfenmarkt square. By embedding historical references into the design, the building contributes to Ham- burg’s ongoing transformation while preserving its historical identity.

HISTORIC LOCATION: THE HAMBURG CONTEXT

The commission for this mixed-use office and residential building was based on a limited competition organised by the city and the client in 2019. The site is located in the centre of Hamburg between the wide, six-lane Willy-Brandt-Strasse and the Nikolaifleet canal. Prominently positioned at the bridgehead, the new building con- tinues a row of small-scale historic houses, shaped by the canal’s distinctive geometry. Towards the street, it faces the Hopfenmarkt—a rectangular, representative square with an eclectic mix of architectural styles. Rising in the background, the bell tower of the Nikolai Church anchors the site in Hamburg’s historical and urban landscape.

The new building mediates between the traditional Fleet houses and the contemporary, large-scale developments along Willy-Brandt-Strasse: A confident, striking volume that provides stability for the square by emphasising the city’s urban axes and framing the view towards the harbour — complementing the city’s plans to enhance the quality of public space around Hopfenmarkt. The building’s setbacks and recesses are thoughtfully designed to address its corner location. Volume, façade composition, and scale all respond to the neighbouring volumes towards all sides, thereby creating an urban sculptural form that respects the existing context.

Semi-circular pilasters clad in red brick rhythmically order the façade, while refer- encing local 20th-century tradition of Brick Expressionism.

BETWEEN CONTINUITY AND INNOVATION

The building consists of two distinct volumes: Standing at the bridge and rising higher than the residential part to emphasise the corner, the office part has a denser rhythm, while the residential part features wider bays. The proportions of the pilasters and the width of the windows play a crucial role in maintaining a cohesive image, while the use of glazed bricks, concrete, and stone enriches the texture. The exterior supporting structure is made of concrete and clad in brick. The semi-circular brick pilasters give the building a sculptural quality, while the recessed windows enhance the sense of depth.

Two main entrances, one for offices, the other for residences, open onto the adja- cent Hopfenmarkt square. The central office staircase allows free division of floor space into flexible units, benefiting from daylight from two or three sides. The  apartments face south towards the canal and offer more privacy and calm by over- looking the water. On the ground floor, a restaurant and multifunctional spaces along the Fleet attract and welcome urban life.

PHYSICAL PRESENCE – TRADITIONAL BRICKWORK

Close attention was paid to the façade’s details, especially the brickwork. The bricks are locally sourced and produced by a local manufacturer. Clay from the Elbmarsch region provides the raw material for the bricks, which are burnt in a traditional ring kiln by the family-run manufacturer Rusch. This brickyard, founded in 1881, is the last of over 100 that existed between Hamburg and Cuxhaven in the second half of the 19th century and the skill and knowledge required for processing the natural material are passed on through generations. By combining craftsmanship with abstract-modern elements such as seriality, grids, and cubic forms, the building creates a dialogue between tradition and contemporary design.

The colour and texture of the façade was crucial to the vision. A shade of green for the window frames contrasts elegantly with the red bricks, creating a refined, sophisticated appearance. The building’s load-bearing structure was equally important. Its foundation is not linear but punctuated, with poles driven deep into the ground to deal with this waterfront location. The rhythm of the columns responds to the land’s natural curve and the site’s demands.

As Hamburg evolves, architecture plays a vital role in bridging the past and the future. The materials, design, and expression of the building all contribute to this mission. The integration of traditional elements that are reinterpreted in a contem- porary way creates a specific aesthetic that conveys a sense of dignity and perma- nence, but also a touch of urban elegance. The result is a building that respects Hamburg’s history while accommodating future needs and contributing to the city’s evolving urban identity.

TEAM: Emanuel Christ, Christoph Gantenbein, Tabea Lachenmann, Astrid Kühn, Alessandro Cairo, Ana Sofia Costa Guerra, Matthias Dexheimer, Simone Fagini, Alejandro Garin Odriozola, Kunqi Hou, Michal Kulesza, Marcela Lino, Jonas Løland, Aurelia Müggler, Giorgio Notari, Pasqualina Papa, Juan Pardellas, Dimitri Stassin, Marcel Weimar, Marc Miquel Castells, Edyta Filipczak, Samyuktha Ganesh, Aaron Wahl

CONSULTANTS: baubüro eins, apm projektmanagement gmbh, APT Ingenieure, Ingenieurbüro Dr.Binnewies, eicher + pauli, Petersen Ingenieure, Taubert und Ruhe, Wetzel & von Seht, Argus Stadt- und Verkehrsplanung

Photography: Simon Menges