The 18-storey building with a height of 65 metres will in future be part of the entrance to Elbbrückenquartier in Hamburg's HafenCity. A total of 181 flats will be realised. In addition, the German Wildlife Foundation will move into a total of 4,000 m², which includes exhibition, office and catering space. Completion of the complex, designed by Hamburg architects Störmer Murphy und Partners, is scheduled for 2023. The investment volume amounts to 140 million euros.
"Roots stands for our vision to redensify the city in a climate-neutral way with the building material wood," explains Fabian von Köppen, Managing Director of Garbe Immobilien-Projekte GmbH. "When we decided to implement such a construction project, we were ready to grow in it together with all those involved. We set ourselves the goal of creating a best case that literally takes root". For Garbe Immobilien-Projekte GmbH, the official start of construction on 27 November 2020 represents a decisive milestone for sustainable project development. A total of 5,500 m³ of softwood will be used in the course of the realisation - never before has so much been used worldwide. The concept enables the creation of compact prefabricated elements, which are expected to be implemented from 2022. This construction method thus not only contributes to reducing the CO2 footprint, but also limits noise emissions during implementation - a contribution to more climate-efficient, resource-saving project development. "From a technical point of view, timber construction in these dimensions belongs to the top class in project development. Even though we conceived a hybrid construction with the Treptower twins in Berlin, even more comprehensive expertise is required here," says Georg Nunnemann, project manager of Garbe Immobilien-Projekte GmbH, and adds: "This makes it all the more important to have people with us who are passionate about their work and who are also willing to give nature more space in our cities again. Back to the roots - really (experience) the closeness to nature The desire for a more sustainable lifestyle is increasingly determining the everyday life of many city dwellers. In urban areas, there is a need for an increasing connection with natural elements, which are given a symbolic character by the raw material wood and set new standards in the design of living space. On a gross floor area of around 20,600 m², 181 residential units are being built, of which 128 are condominiums and 53 are publicly subsidised. The symbiosis between urbanity and environment is underlined by surrounding loggias, which connect the built and undeveloped space with sliding glass elements. All flats thus have views towards the port, HafenCity or the city centre. The residential use is complemented by a 600 m² inner courtyard designed by the renowned landscape architects LOIDL, as well as a yoga room with a terrace for the future residents. To underline the natural component of the concept, Garbe Immobilien-Projekte GmbH decided to integrate an interactive exhibition by the German Wildlife Foundation. Here, residents and visitors are to gain an insight into the subject areas of nature and species protection. "We have the opportunity to actively create our contribution to an environmentally friendly way of life. It was therefore important for us to provide insights into nature and to be located in an urban context. Our vision becomes a mission with the Roots. We want to give an impulse and show what is possible in project development. We want to lead the way with timber house development for the industry and together we want to have succeeded in 10 years so that this way of building is no longer a novelty", summarises von Köppen.
Press contact
BEiL² - Die PR-Strategen GmbH: Madeleine Beil, madeleine.beil(at)beilquadrat.de, 040 882153220
Garbe Immobilien-Projekte GmbH: Heidi Miklowait, h.miklowait(at)garbe.de, 040 356 13-1266
About the German Wildlife Foundation
The non-profit German Wildlife Foundation has been in existence for 25 years. With equity capital of almost €150 million (as of 31.12.2016), the German Wildlife Foundation is one of the most financially strongest private environmental foundations in Germany.
Income from assets, donations and grants result in an annual budget of €6 to 7 million, which is used by the Foundation's team of around 35 employees in Hamburg and Berlin for nature conservation and nature education projects.
The foundation organises its work in four pillars:
- Saving wild animals from extinction
- Creating living spaces
- solve conflicts between wildlife and humans and
- Getting people excited about nature and wildlife.
Its name says it all: The German Wildlife Foundation is committed to the wild animals in Germany - from wild bees to lynxes and lesser spotted eagles. As the owner of the land and with its local species conservation projects, the German Wildlife Foundation is locally and practically committed to nature conservation. In addition, the German Wildlife Foundation relies on comprehensive educational and public relations work to get people excited about nature and its secrets.