Ctrl+Space: HAMBURG Hybrid Housing

This is a single stage Ideas Competition with the aim of identifying the best proposal of a Mixed Use building in Hamburg, Germany.
In recent years this city is experiencing unprecedented growth, in particular with the HafenCity Project, currently the largest development project in Europe: a commercial, residential and business district built directly in the river Elbe. When finished, by 2020, this whole project will have expanded by 40% the city’s downtown area. An ambitious development for the city, with special relevance in quality architecture sets the background for this Competition.

The purpose is to present concepts that could make concrete improvements to the urban setting at the neighborhood scale to the chosen Intervention Site. Mainly devoted to a Residential program, this is also an opportunity to generate models for wider application, answering to a growing generalized shortage of homes in the city centre felt in cities like London, New York, Tokyo and many others.

Underlining this assignment a series of other questions can be raised:
How can more density be brought to the city centre as a positive asset to the urban environment?

How can a Residential building answer the needs of its inhabitants, of socialization and intimacy as well as benefit the surrounding community in an innovative way?

How can a wide array of functions be fruitfully integrated in the design and functionality of the building?

All these issues, their subtleties and indeterminations are the elements that will guide and shape the discussion around this Competition. The winning entry should take into consideration the unique potential of the location, meet the demands of the complex Program and generate a lively, vibrant urban block.