Elbphilharmonie – Heart of the Music World
Original beauty
Standing out from the city, at the end of a pier on the Elbe River, is the majestic Elbphilharmonie. A former cocoa warehouse serves as the foundation for its typical rectangular brick shape. A large part of the building consists of a stunning glass structure, reminiscent of frozen waves cresting at the very top. It offers a delightful view of the harbour, the charming towers of the old commercial centre and the beautiful sky over Hamburg, all from an admirable height of 37 metres.
Luxury craftsmanship in Swiss style
The name behind this bold and unique architectural masterpiece is the Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron, run by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, whose most famous works include the “Bird’s Nest” or “spaghetti bowl” (Olympic stadium in Beijing) and the Tate Modern in London. They have also designed many fancy apartments, restaurants and luxury hotels.
Incredible design, the work of masters
Upon entering, you will be astounded by the luxurious foyer, which leads to the Grand Hall, the Recital Hall, the café or reception. The imposing entrance is reached by an 82-metre escalator. Visitors are literally immersed in the shining sphere of the tunnel. Glass filters reflect and break the light to create an extraordinary atmosphere in the building. The Grand Hall, considered to be the heart of the Elbphilharmonie, can receive up to 2100 viewers. An exceptional musical experience is ensured by perfect acoustics thanks to the special material by internationally acclaimed manufacturer Yasuhisa Toyota. In stark contrast stands the Recital Hall, which is similar to the classical concept of concert halls. It has a capacity of 550 people and is located in a glass corpus, which is also specially separated. The last Kaistudio1 hall can hold about 170 visitors.
The entire façade of the Elbphilharmonie is equally astonishing and exceptional, captivating at first glance. It consists of 1100 panels, each of which is four to five metres wide and three metres high. The windows alone are a masterpiece of engineering.
Elbphilharmonie is proof that it is possible to incorporate a building as a living element into an urban space, which glitters in the sunlight and glows like a diamond at night.
Don’t miss this luxurious Hamburg gem!
