Edge ElbSide, a state-of-the-art office building located in the emerging Elbbrücken district of Hamburg's Hafencity, redefines the concept of modern workspaces. While the initial masterplan proposed an office building featuring an interior courtyard cut off from the urban fabric, our scheme reimagined this type by subdividing and distributing the courtyard throughout the building as innovative winter gardens. They act as low-tech climate pockets between inside and outside, enhancing the overall spatial experience of the structure.

The design of Edge ElbSide revolves around these unique winter gardens, which not only provide tranquil spaces for individual work and meetings but also contribute to the building's energy efficiency. By incorporating landscape elements and promoting natural cross-ventilation, the winter gardens play a key role in reducing the building's overall energy consumption, making it a sustainable and environmentally-friendly workplace.

In contrast to the conventional office layout of closed-off cubicles and isolated corridors, Edge ElbSide offers open and flexible spaces that promote communication and collaboration among its inhabitants. The central “main street” encourages communication and spontaneous interactions, facilitates orientation and vertical circulation, and works in conjunction with the winter gardens to efficiently arrange the workspaces.

Designed as a core and shell building, Edge ElbSide allows for customization and personalization of its interior spaces by its users. The focus of the design is on the outward-facing winter gardens: they contribute to the well-being of users by creating a harmonious balance between work and recreation while increasing the supply of daylight. With a holistic approach to sustainability and user-friendliness, Edge ElbSide improves the standard for modern office buildings.