New white-coated, light-looking and elegance apartments and headquarters of Engel & Völkers will embrace the city residents looking to the Hamburg's Elbe River. Designed by Richard Meier & Partners, the mixed-use building is the most recent development in Hamburg’s HafenCity and it will combine the new Engel & Völkers headquarters, luxury condominiums, and rental apartments. 

Behind the project stands a joint venture between the renowned property developer Quantum Immobilien AG and Engel & Völkers AG named Quartier am Strandkai GmbH & Co. KG. The exclusive “Strandhaus by Richard Meier” condominiums have been conceived of as a 16- storey residential tower with its own separate entrance. The third to 15th floors will consist of 66 unique apartments while the 16th floor will offer two large penthouses at the top.

In addition to the building structure, Richard Meier & Partners has also designed significant interior details, including open and spacious, light-flooded interiors with ceiling-height doors and floor-to-ceiling windows- the structure opens to the city, the Elbe River, and the city port. Residents of these apartments will also enjoy access to a private gym situated on the 16th floor with panoramic views of Hamburg. 

“The early history of our office is rooted in the design of some of the most iconic residential projects. This project continues the tradition of minimalist and light-filled spaces and of the continuous and clear organization of the intricate program requirements of a mixed-use building,'' said Bernhard Karpf, design partner-in-charge.

“Natural light is the main building material, and the main characteristic of the interior spaces is their openness and transparency. They are filled with natural light and animated by the connection to the port, the city and the street life around the HafenCity district. Each floor of the development is a study in balancing transparency and natural light with various degrees of privacy required for the residential and office interiors,'' Karpf added.

The Engel & Völkers headquarters is another component of the development with a total floor space of approx. 6,800 square meters. “Our new company headquarters is set to become a building where the Engel & Völkers brand can be experienced,” said Christian Völkers, CEO/ Founder of Engel & Völkers AG. 

The core of the offices will be the double-height entrance lobby, which is envisioned as a place where employees as well as visitors can come together to converse and enjoy the public space. The five levels above the entrance and lobby are designated for office space and will also become the new home of the Engel & Völkers Academy.

“The color white is a fundamental part of Richard Meier & Partners inimitable style – a color that is also dominant throughout Engel & Völkers branding,” said Christian Völkers.

The shell construction of the four-level underground garage beneath the new building complex is now complete, and due to the proximity to the Elbe River, an elaborate construction technique had to be employed. The technique is usually implemented on major infrastructure projects such as underground train links. 

“Besides the technical challenges, the planning phase has also had to take the varied uses of the building ensemble into account. The final design is a good solution that safeguards the functionality of individual areas while ensuring an attractive overall appearance,” said Philipp Schmitz- Morkramer, Founder and CEO of Quantum Immobilien AG, the project developer. The next phase of the project will be the structural construction and fitting of the above-ground structure. 

The 16-storey ensemble is expected to be completed in 2018, and it aspires to contribute to the redevelopment of Hamburg’s HafenCity district and to the skyline of the city. Richard Meier & Partners has designed over 20 buildings in Germany, including the recently completed Arp Museum in Rolandseck and the award-winning Coffee Plaza in Hamburg.

Site plan

Ground floor plan

1st floor plan

Typical floor plan

Typical floor plan (8-10)

East-West section

West elevation

South elevation

North elevation

East elevation

Project Facts

Design principals: Richard Meier, Bernhard Karpf

Project architects: Parsa Khalili, Anne Strüwing

Collaborators: Kevin Browning, Bori Kang, Amalia Rusconi-Clerici, Stephen Sze

Project manager: Ringo Offermann

Project architect: Anne Strüwing

Collaborators: Kevin Browning, Pablo Costa, Alejandro Guerrero, Henry Jarzabkowski, Bori Kang, Aung Thu Kyaw, Sharon Oh, Steven Sze

Owner: Quartier am Strandkai GmbH & Co. KG

All images © Bloom Images

All drawings courtesy of Richard Meier & Partners Architects

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