gmp architekten: hamburg harburg technical university

‘hamburg-harburg technical university’ by gmp architekten, hamburg, germany image © heiner leiska all images courtesy of gmp architekten

the ‘hamburg-harburg technical university’ by german practice gmp architekten is now constructed after a 2 year process, ahead its scheduled completion date in hamburg, germany. attached to a listed historical red brick structure within the former second world war schwarzenberg barracks, two new volumes are clad with glass and screened with U-shaped aluminum tubes and steel cables. seemingly random, their staggered vertical displacement spells the name of the university when read in morse code.

filling voids from the war, these additions connect the eastern wing back to the building along with a new building to the north which together re-establishes the elevation and complex’s symmetry. leading to the encompassing campus of 14 structures, this prominent entrance structure also contains an auditorium, seminar rooms and a learning and communication center for students.

exterior is clad with aluminun tubes and glass image © heiner leiska

the opened interior maintains a central axis, forming a three-storey tall atrium with clear cross-views from the stairwells.

seemingly random spacing spells the university’s name when read in morse code image © heiner leiska

entry foyer image © heiner leiska

image © heiner leiska

three-storey tall atrium image © heiner leiska

image © heiner leiska

site map image © gmp

ground floor plan image © gmp

project info:

competition: 2009 – 1st prize design: meinhard von gerkan and nikolaus goetze associated partner: volkmar sievers project leaders: jan stolte, tilmann jarmer design team: martina klostermann, inga kläschen, michèle watenphul, bastian scholz, jared steinmann, mark botko, alisa von gerkan, knut maass in co-operation with: obermeyer planen und beraten gmbh client: freie und hansestadt hamburg, office for science and research gross floor area, total: 10,169 m2 gross floor area of existing building/refurbishment: 7,416 m2 gross floor area of new buildings: 2,753 m2 construction period: 2010-2012