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Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The Elbphilharmonie is a concert hall in the western part of HafenCity in Hamburg. It was designed with the aim of creating a new landmark for the city and a 'cultural beacon for all citizens.'

The new landmark of the Hanseatic city

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg – Where culture meets architecture

The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg is one of Germany’s most striking buildings and a new landmark of the Hanseatic city. The 110-meter-high structure stands on over 1,000 reinforced concrete piles directly on the River Elbe and combines historical substance with contemporary architecture. A glass superstructure with a wave-shaped roof, reminiscent of a sail or iceberg, was erected on the massive brick base of a former quayside warehouse. The heart of the building is the large concert hall with 2,100 seats, complemented by a smaller hall with 550 seats. In addition to its cultural use, the building also houses 45 exclusive apartments, dining facilities, and a five-star hotel with 244 rooms. The Elbphilharmonie merges concert culture with urban life and was designed by the architects Herzog & de Meuron as a “magical house of sound” that brings together culture, architecture, and engineering in a unique way.

A central element of the building is the publicly accessible plaza at a height of 37 meters between the base and the glass superstructure. From here, visitors enjoy a unique panoramic view over the harbor, the Elbe, and the city. The plaza serves as a meeting place for visitors from all over the world and connects the historic quayside warehouse with the modern structure. It also provides access to the concert halls, dining areas, hotel, and apartments—an urban link with a high quality of stay.

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Our products in use

In a building with high public footfall such as the Elbphilharmonie, secure escape and rescue routes are essential. The Gretsch-Unitas group of companies supplied reliable solutions for this purpose, which were integrated into the overall architectural concept. This ensures that visitor flows can be guided quickly, safely, and in compliance with standards, even in an emergency.

Escape door expertise down to the smallest detail:
The GU Group provides well-designed solutions for escape and rescue routes—tailored to individual project requirements and certified according to EN 179, EN 1125, and DIN EN 13637. Self-locking BKS locks and GU SECURY multi-point locks with panic function guarantee maximum security. All components are optimally coordinated—for tested functionality, uncompromising safety, and consistently aesthetic design.