The KPTN complex in HafenCity is conceived as a socially and functionally mixed, compact urban district. This intimate quarter—five buildings in total—consolidates roughly a dozen distinct uses under one roof. The cinema, harbor stage, restaurants, and bars energize the space, especially in the evenings. Paired with a hotel, long-stay apartments, shops, and public underground parking, they create a constantly shifting mix of visitors. Simultaneously, it's home to a diverse community of 220 residents, housed in both subsidized and market-rate apartments, ranging from compact studios to spacious four-room family units. The rooftop gardens with play areas and gazebos, along with a verdant inner courtyard, offer residents both private refuge and social gathering space. A public passage cuts through the quarter, opening into a central piazza with generous outdoor seating and dining options.

From the outside, the ensemble reads as a unified composition with clean, decisive geometry. The hotel-cinema complex, designed by Nalbach & Nalbach architects, draws on brick expressionism through its articulated façade of projecting and recessed stone elements. The residential and commercial portions, designed by architects blrm, are anchored in a precise, symmetrical grid—a nod to the nearby Speicherstadt warehouses—where floor-to-ceiling windows are rhythmically arranged.

The site accommodates 48,700 m² of gross floor area across a 6,400 m² plot, distributed over seven to eight above-ground levels plus two below ground. A particular challenge emerged from the location: the complex sits on a reclaimed harbor basin, positioned up to 2.50 m below storm surge protection levels. This demanded specialized solutions—notably, a flood defense balcony that wraps the hotel-cinema complex as a distinctive architectural element. Hotel rooms occupy the space above the cinema. To protect guests' sleep, the cinema halls—engineered for rock-concert volumes up to 110 dB—are constructed as acoustically isolated room-within-room assemblies. Street-facing micro-apartments feature custom-designed windows with floor-to-ceiling, sound-rated glazing that admits fresh air while maintaining acoustic performance.

The detailed design and planning also fell to blrm architects. The new building exemplifies modular room design, sustainable and resource-conscious materials, and high energy efficiency—credentials recognized by its HafenCity Gold environmental certification.

www.blrm.eu

Photography Credits:

Marcus Bredt
www.marcusbredt.de

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 01|20)