The German headquarters of Kühne + Nagel, an internationally active logistics group, is located on a prestigious site in the Hamburg HafenCity. Based on the structural guidelines fixed in the urban master plan, the building is a fundamental component of this growing district. Two three-storey building elements create an inner courtyard, while a twelve-storey tower in the north-west forms an important urban point of orientation. The building layout is oriented towards the water. The front façade facing Grasbrookhafen opens up the building with a three-storey glazed entrance area, whose lightness and transparency forms an appealing contrast to the otherwise strictly vertical structure of the external façade built of natural stone and glass. The dialogue of contrasts is the consistently applied design motif. Our office was also responsible for the complete interior design. A convincing overall building project was thus implemented in close collaboration with the client. Almost every employee has a view to the surrounding water landscape, due to the generous design of the foyer, even from the workspaces located in the eastern building section. In combination with an individual furnishing concept and a flexible room layout, the design allowed the creation of attractive workspaces. Huge panoramic windows of the conference rooms on the top level of the tower afford views of the entire harbour area – an overwhelming panorama.

Photos: Bernadette Grimmenstein, Dorfmüller | Kröger | Klier, SMP