Upbeat by Kleihues + Kleihues
The “Upbeat” at Nordhafen will be an urban focal point, marking the beginning of Europacity from the north. The design is characterized by it’s stepped volumes and three sweeping, star-shaped building sections. As a result, a sequence of surfaces of varying lengths rythmically order the approximately 120-meter-long façade.
This soft countenance, which is further enhanced through its structureing into base, middle and top sections give the distinctive building a sense of scale and elegance without ignoring the existing context. The effect is reinforced by the slender façade grid: a brick structure laid over the building like a net and substantially supporting the flowing movement of the building.
Outwardly, this formal uniformity creates a well-proportioned and, above all, hierarchical ensemble of buildings, that still always expresses a clear identity to the buildings users in both multi-tenant and single-tenant arrangements.
