Pantaenius House, Hamburg, Germany

This office building forms part of a new masterplan for the HafenCity in Hamberg as part of a revitalisation program for a harbour which has lost its significance as one of Europe’s leading trade and shipping centres. The building will accommodate the head office of Pantaenius-Versicherungsgesellschaft (a yacht insurance broker) and is situated in the “Speicherstadt”, a historic area of shipping warehouses and the key architectural element of the historic harbour development of Hamburg. The design of the building attempts to find both a material and formal reference to the historic harbour.

Its simple composition of two interlocking volumes of differing heights mediates between the lower neighbouring residential buildings to the west and the higher office buildings to the north on the other side of the quay. The exterior brick skin unifies the building into one monolithic form, providing an architectural emphasis for the entrance to the harbour and a reference to the historic brick buildings of the harbour.

Long, deep horizontal incisions into the facade give the building a sculptural appearance and provide loggias on the north and south sides, creating a relationship between all interior office spaces and the exterior surroundings of the harbour. Eight floors with a roof terrace provide an attractive working environment. The floor plan allows for a flexible layout of the office floors with individual and open-plan spaces. The loggias can be accessed from all office spaces and enhance the pleasant working atmosphere of the building.

Client: Sandtor Gmbh
Gross Floor Area: 7200 m2
Design Architect: David Chipperfield

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