LIFE HAMBURG – Hamburg

Life Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG is planning the construction of the first comprehensive educational innovation center in Hamburg Bramfeld. Under one roof, like-minded people across generations shall gather, dedicated to the collective goal of lifelong learning. Therefore, inspired by the international initiative "Learnlife", a future-oriented world of learning will be created, offering optimal conditions for learning in an ideal building. 

The site is located nearby the headquarters of Otto GmbH & Co KG in the Werner-Otto-Strasse. It borders Werner-Otto-Strasse to the west, Haldesdorfer Strasse to the south and is flanked by Otto Group buildings to the north and east.

According to the planning of the feasibility study, the "Life Hamburg" project contains a gross floor area above ground of approx. 14,300 m² in the three upper floors plus 2,432 m² in the planned partial basement. On this area, the building is intended to be developed as a three-dimensional holistic system that provides a variety of possible uses not only within floors, but also vertically through the implementation of split levels and connecting staircases. 

The two parts of the building are connected by the central agora. From here, expansive staircases lead to the two parts located in the east and west. The building offers zones with different levels of brightness, different degrees of privacy or openness, as well as zones with various plantings and multiple references to the outdoor space. Inside, this creates an exciting environment for learning and growing. Thus, a prototype for the world's first innovation community is to be created in Hamburg. A balanced approach towards nature and technology is also part of the mission statement, which is reflected in the building's aim to be nearly CO2-neutral.

Most of the building is planned as a load-bearing structure made of sustainable wood. Except for the basement and the ground floor as well as the cores with the escape staircases and the toilets, the entire structure was planned to be made of solid wood hybrid elements and wooden columns. The entire shell of the building is designed with climate protection in mind: the generously glazed skin for extensive, natural lighting of the interior spaces is highly thermally insulated, while the surrounding second skin of the facade is covered with greenery. From the outside, the planting will extend through the interior. In addition, a balcony-like perimeter is planned as a second emergency evacuation path to generate the large open and flexible spaces inside.

Photovoltaic elements are planned on the roof surface to provide the energy needed to operate the building.

Project New construction of an educational innovation center Project location Werner-Otto-Straße 1-7, 22179 Hamburg Client Life Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG Architects Lava Berlin Architekturbüro - Laboratory for visionary architecture Gross floor area approx. 14,300 m² Construction costs Confidential Services SMV Project management, project control, feasibility study Project term from 2019 to 2020 Responsible contact person at SMV Arnd Wittchen