City Nord Office Building
Hamburg, Germany
Client: Becken Development GmbH Competition, second prize
Caruso St John Architects was invited to a competition in north of Hamburg, organised by Becken Development and the city. The competition was structured in two parts: firstly, the remodelling of an existing office building, and secondly, the densification of the site with new residential development. Caruso St John Architects was awarded first prize for the new housing building and second prize for the refurbishment of the existing office structure.
The proposed refurbishment of the existing 1970's building focused on carefully reusing and upgrading its façades and structural elements. The outer plaster layer and cantilevered escape balconies would be dismantled, treated for corrosion, and fully reintegrated. Balcony brackets would be thermally optimised, while the façades’ light metal profiles and glazing would be recycled as secondary materials. External solar shading and selective operable windows would improve energy performance and ventilation. Materials, including aluminium, steel, and stainless steel, would be designed for dismantling and circular reuse, preserving value, reducing CO₂, and supporting the building’s original 1970s architectural character.
Existing building
Credits
Location
Hamburg, Germany
Date
2024
Client
Becken Development GmbH
Heritage
Listed setting
Area
18,000m2
Caruso St John Architects
Adam Caruso, Peter St John
Project team
Ben Speltz, Rachel Caul
Visualisations
Filippo Bolognese Images
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