Three-dimensional image of the Hafen City Master Plan. KCAP, Rotterdam, 2001
The city of Hamburg has become the last decade a benchmark for collective action to transform a city into more accountable patterns with the sustainability of the planet in the long term.
In 2000, the City Council approve the so-called Hamburg Hafen City. A development plan would impact the redevelopment of a substantial part of its extensive port. The concept of this Master Plan, conducted by the Dutch office KCAP, be based on maximum energy efficiency of their infrastructure and buildings following urban design patterns required to encourage increased residential density and greater mix of uses.
Elb Philharmonie Concert Hall. Duke&deMeuron architects. Hamburg, 2010. by Inhabitat
Status of implementation of the development and construction in 2008
Today is already a tangible reality shows as a proper disposition of a community can produce in a short time positive urban metamorphosis, as long as you have clear objectives and there is a powerful management will.
In these cases, just citizen leadership shape in a responsible highly motivated decision makers sedimented in innovative ideas with a strong experimental. In Hamburg, that political leadership has led to the formalization of a high quality urban space, through continuous planning and lack of improvisation.
The most significant icon of this effort is the new building Elb Philarmonie, musical performances intended and designed by the Swiss architects Herzog & DeMeuron, which incorporates an image representing the meaning of the set point. Today, this cultural work and is also a reality.
In 2011, Hamburg get the title of European Green City that the European Commission awarded every year. A well-deserved recognition to the efforts.
Marco Polo Terrasse. Central area of the new district Hafen City. Photos: Lucas Grey, Flickr 2010
Here are some images videos that somehow reflects the underlying ideology that has managed to push this idea by establishing a collective consensus among citizens. All this through anecdotes significant and infant vision.
