MVRDV chosen to implement vast hamburg innovation port masterplan

MVRDV has been chosen to implement its masterplan for the ‘hamburg innovation port’, a new 70,000 square meter development in germany’s second largest city.

the site is located within channel hamburg, a district which is nearing its final stage of realization. the vast scheme includes hotels, conference halls, offices and start-ups, laboratories, research facilities, and a parking garage. the plan is designed to be as flexible as possible, with the potential to change the program as construction progresses.commissioned by construction company HC hagemann, MVRDV worked alongside co-architect morePlatz to develop a masterplan based on a series of alleys between the street and the basin. the project’s first three levels follow the existing harbor typology, while the storeys above are more suited for laboratories and larger offices. the center of each building contains space for restaurants, canteens, or libraries. partially green roofs integrate terraces and solar cells — some of which will be connected via flexible bridges that can be adapted for future use.

an existing building will be transformed to accommodate temporary activities, or to support construction of other phases of the project. the fifth building is a floating hotel, accessible via a jetty. a diverse range of public spaces include a park, a boulevard, a square, a variety of shared spaces, and a waterside promenade that features a wide stairway.

‘at hamburg innovation port we envision a very high density to create a vibrant neighborhood and to make the best use of this fantastic location at the waterside, a former cattle food factory site,’ explains MVRDV founding partner jacob van rijs. ‘the density is FAR3.3, comparable to a typical berlin city block with its courtyards and outhouses, but designed in a way to offer daylight and vistas.’