Façade as art: Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany
In the second of our ‘Façade in Focus’ case study series, we explore the story of our part in the creation of Elbphilharmonie – a building with a façade that is uniquely complex in its design and engineering.
Since the building opened back in 2017, it has helped to drive the revival and renewal of Hamburg’s docks area as a residential, commercial, cultural and tourist destination. The stunning glass façade for Elbphilharmonie – which houses a concert hall, hotel, residential apartments and public spaces – was created by our Gartner brand.
The vision of Swiss architect Herzog & de Meuron, the building is a stunning work of art that has been compared to a wave, a crystal, an iceberg and a sail. A former warehouse provides a striking base for the astonishingly complex glass façade, which is made up of irregular, semi-transparent panels incorporating a range of innovative technological elements.