The building, which was one of the first in the Strandkai district, is located directly on the Norderelbe and forms an ensemble with the Marco Polo Tower, also designed by Behnisch Architekten. The appearance of the building is reminiscent of the cruise ships that are anchored nearby. The central element and heart of the design is the generous, lightflooded atrium, which serves as a place where people can meet and gather. Bridges, ramps and steps connect central plazas like in a city. This is where people can meet and talk with others, and be inspired by a different environment. This encourages lively communication and promotes the feeling of belonging among the people working inside the building. The building follows the principles of holistic, sustainable architecture. Not only using technology that conserves resources, but also avoiding technical solutions wherever possible. In addition to the Schüco AWS special construction, the building is clad in an ETFE foil façade, which allows window ventilation even in extreme winds. Measures such as component-activated ceilings mean that the building has a primary energy con - sumption of under 100 kWh/a m². When it opened in September 2009, the building received the newly introduced Gold Ecolabel of HafenCity Hamburg.

Source: City profile magazine, issue Hamburg

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