Elba Niederhafen Promenád, Hamburg

Architects: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Text: György Szegő
Photos: Zaha Hadid Architects

Located at Niederhafen on the Elbe River between St. Pauli Landungsbrücken and Baumwall in Hamburg, the upgraded 625 metre river promenade is integral to the modernisation and reinforcement of the city’s flood protection system. Modern hydrology and computer simulations have since analysed and forecast the city’s flooding characteristics with greater accuracy; calculating that an increase in the barrier height of 0.80 m was required to protect Hamburg from future winter storm surges and extreme high tides. Inspections of Niederhafen’s existing flood barrier in 2006 determined that supporting elements of the existing structure were overburdened and its foundations needed significant reinforcement. The city of Hamburg organised a competition to design the redeveloped flood barrier and subsequently awarded the project to Zaha Hadid Architects. The river promenade is divided into two sections with different spatial qualities. The zone to the west is at a larger scale, offering wide views downstream of all shipping activity on the river. To the east, the port’s marina creates a more intimate atmosphere with a long ramp alongside the amphitheatre leading visitors down to the water’s edge.

Design: Zaha Hadid Architects
Architects: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Project leader: Jan Hübener, Studio H2K
Architects: Niels Kespohl, Cornelius Schlotthauer, Rassul Wassa, Walentina Tradowski, Gonzalo Carbajo, Eren Ciraci
Structure: Ingenieurbüro Grassl Gmbh
Road and traffic: Schmeck-Junker Ingenieurgesellschaft Mbh
HVAC: Rmn Ingenieure
Geotechnical consulting: Grundbauingenieure Steinfield Und Partner Gbr
Environmental impacts: Landschaft & Plan
Lights: Schlotfeldt Licht