Position and Concept

Position
The Elbphilharmonie will be located on a historically significant site at the Hamburg harbour, which is Europe’s second largest harbour. The Elbphilharmonie will be constructed at the point of the Sandtorhafen. It is the first industrial harbour basin Hamburg's. To the west the Elbphilharmonie appears to loom into the Elb River. It creates a junction between the city and the harbour.

Concept:
Next to the three concert halls the plaza becomes the central point of the Elbphilharmonie. Visitors can meet in this open area. Floating at a height of 37m, the plaza becomes a market place over the river that people can visit without having to pay an entrance fee.

The outside area provides a unique panorama: to the north lies the city, to the east the seaport, to the west and the south one has a view of the river Elb as well as the lay out of the harbour. There is hardly another place in Hamburg where the relationship between the city and the harbour unfolds as well as it does from the plaza. The interior of the plaza moulds the arched and geometrically varied ceiling.

Deep incisions to the top penetrate the Elbphilharmonie and present diverse view relationships between the plaza and the various foyer levels. The plaza is lined with restaurants and shops. From here one accesses the hotel and the apartments. The foyers are accessed via sculptural stairs.