Located at a prominent corner of eastern HafenCity, where Überseeallee and Shanghaiallee converge, stands the eight-storey Holiday Inn Hotel. Born from a competition-winning design by Kister Scheithauer Gross Architects and Urban Planners, the hotel garnered the prestigious iF Design Award in the Architecture category this February. The façade's tectonic composition forms a striking vertical plane, its visual weight amplified by an elevated attic cornice that establishes spatial presence. Pilaster strips function as the design's defining element, articulating the façade with rhythmic relief that captures light dramatically. The expansive façade reads as a bold new landmark for the neighbourhood, while the building block's angled edges lend sculptural depth to the entire composition.

Flanking each large fixed window are two vertical pillars of equal proportion. This fundamental rhythm—repeated at each room module—flows horizontally across the façade and structures the vertical height. The façade's setback toward Lohsepark creates a powerful visual accent and resolves the corner with precision, cleanly separating building mass from façade. Like a ship's prow slicing through water, the structure divides the urban space with confident geometry. Its acute-angled silhouette commands attention, eloquently invoking the maritime heritage that defines this harbour district.

Every brick has its place. Formats, custom units, and wall textures are meticulously specified to orchestrate a cohesive visual rhythm. Bluish-red-violet bricks infuse the façade with colour and dimension, their powerful tone nodding respectfully to the heritage of Hamburg's historic Hanseatic office buildings.

The ground floor's suspended ceiling—folded like a ship's keel—announces itself through the canopy above. True to hotel design tradition, the canopy combines black steel with frosted glass, while a backlit glass soffit emphasizes the entrance. Along Überseeallee, this creates a welcoming arrival and an unmistakable identity for the hotel. The Holiday Inn offers 268 rooms, an expansive conference suite with three flexible event spaces accommodating up to 220 guests, and a dedicated business centre. The restaurant, bar, and lounge welcome all guests, whether staying at the hotel or simply passing through.

www.ksg-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Kister Scheithauer Gross
HGEsch Photography
www.hgesch.de

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 03|20)