Elbbrücken Underground Station Hamburg, German Metro Building, Hafencity Architecture

Elbbrücken Underground Station

Metro Development Germany: German Transit Building design by von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp)

3 May 2013

Elbbrücken Underground Station in Hafencity

Design: von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp)

Hamburg competition won by gmp Architects

Elbbrücken Underground station in Hafencity to be designed by gmp

The architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) have won first prize in the competition for the design of the Elbbrücken Underground station. The station will be located in the future district of the same name, at the eastern end of Hamburg‘s Hafencity, and will, at least for the time being, be the end station of the recently opened U4 Underground line.

images © Gärtner+Christ

The genius loci of this over-ground station is determined by its position directly at the river Elbe, the future dense urban development and, not least, by the historic Elbbrücken bridges with their conspicuous shallow steel arches. In resonance to the bridges, an impressive steel structure consisting of curved steel girders supports the new station, creating a structure which newly interprets the dynamic design principles of the historic bridges.

The external roof construction underscores the visual presence of the structure; the crosswise layout of the frames results in a grid-type system and stabilises the steel arches.

A glass façade suspended on the inside protects the building against the weather. The light-flooded station opens interesting vistas towards the local urban ‚Am Baakenhafen’ center, to the prominent tower blocks and the Elbe bridges.

The design is characterised by simple and clearly structured access principles. The complex difference in levels between the terrain and the platforms is cleverly dealt with inside the building. A ribbon section for lights and media will stretch the entire length of the station between the platform level and the booking hall. The lighting will generally be subdued and unostentatious, underscoring the character of the structure.

images © gmp

Elbbrücken Underground Station in Hafencity Hamburg – Building Information

Competition 2013 – winner
Design Volkwin Marg with Stephanie Jöbsch
Partner Jürgen Hillmer
Project management Stephanie Jöbsch
Design team Achim Wangler, Bernd Kottsieper, Katja Mezger
Structural design schlaich bergermann and partners
Client Hamburger Hochbahn AG

Elbbrücken Underground Station in Hafencity images / information from gmp · von Gerkan, Marg and Partners · Architects

gmp · von Gerkan, Marg & Partners

Location: Elbbrücken, Hafencity, Hamburg, northern Germany, western Europe