A strong ensemble of self-confident brick buildings are proposed alongside the Nikoliafleet in the historic centre of Hamburg. The buildings contribute a coherence to the Nikolai Island neighbourhood characterised by large waterside buildings, active streets and public spaces. The new buildings are robust, up-to-date in terms of construction technology, adaptable in their floor plans, commercial in their thinking, but also expressive, self-confident in the way they help shape urban spaces and strong in their communal effect. They are thus firmly rooted in the Hamburg building tradition.
Apartments with a variety of tenures occupy the courtyard building to the west and offices occupy the bone-shaped building to the east. Both are clad in brownish-blue, slightly reflective clinker brickwork harmonious with the location. A few carefully thought-out details give rhythm to the façade, emphasise the sculptural effect of the openings and underline the unity of the assembly. Window reveals and posts, window sills, cornices and arches are made of rounded shaped bricks. The reveals of the windows and arches jump back by one brick measure and thus underline the mass of the masonry. The window soffits are designed as perforated brickwork and thus allow a noise-protected ventilation via a ventilation wing behind them.
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