Two apartment buildings by Max Dudler in Hamburg’s “Quartier der Generationen” have reached completion
The two residential buildings with ground fl commercial utilizations, designed by Max Dudler, were con- ceived as elements of an interconnected development consisting of six individual buildings. The new en- semble faces Lola-Rogge-Platz, the lively heart of the emerging “Quartier der Generationen.”
As realized, the project demonstrates eloquently that residential space intended for tenants is compatible with uncom- promising architectural quality. Set along the Baakenhafen harbor basin, this residential district introduces diversity and social mixture into Hamburg’s Hafencity and offers all of the key daily functions of urban life, including retail and service options.
“It was to begin with this special location, with its double waterside setting, that inspired the theme of the facade: the actually divisible individual buildings of the small ensemble were consolidated to form a spatial figure that confronts the dynamic locale conceptually like a rocky formation. The play of light on the ingeniously assembled façade surface seems to reflect the movement of the water and the ships.” Max Dudler
After winning 2nd prize in a competition, the office of Max Dudler was commissioned pro rata with the planning of Buildings 1 and 6 at Baakenhafen Building Site 91. The two buildings designed by the office are components of an urbanistic figure consisting of six individual buildings, all linked on the ground floor level. Entirely in brick, the development has a strong presence as an urban ensemble. The nuanced color and format of the bricks enhances the design’s sculptural impact. The waters of the Elbe and the shipping traffic that characterizes the locale inspired the horizontal dynamism of the facade, with its recumbent strips, joints, and stratification.
With the Quartier der Generationen, Hamburg’s Hafencity acquires a new quality, and now contains residential space for a diverse community of inhabitants. Buildings 1 and 6 contain altogether 64 apartments, with of units for families and seniors, as well as assisted living units which allow elderly residents to remain in their own homes into advanced old age. The apartments are publicly subsidized, and rental prices are regulated. Max Dudler’s design demonstrates that high-quality architecture need not be restricted to high-priced residential developments.
