Double Crossed

Initial conceptual drawing 

The center of Hamburg has seen the departure of its harbor industry to the outskirts of the city. In an attempt to reintroduce a modern industry, a data center will be located on the plot. The data - being a very abstract concept for most of us - is made tangible in its physical form and requirements as the public functions are intermixed with the servers, cables, and ventilation towers of the data center. In addition, the relation of the city to the water is explored. Rather than building a dike or a plinth with parking to handle flood levels, a public pool will form the flood protection. By allowing residents to bathe in outdoor water heated by the data center with a direct view of the river this relation is restored. 

Connection to the water inspiration

Badeschiff by Wilk-Salinas Architekten

Datapolis by Justin Agyin 

DATAPOLIS is part of an urban intervention on Katendrecht that explores how Rotterdam could alternatively reengage with the water in former port areas and does so by inserting a contemporary industry, a hyperscale datacenter, in the heart of the city: the Meuse river. As such, it confronts us with the scale and architectural expression of the shadow world of society and our expanding hunger for data as the oil of the 21st century with our privacy as currency.

The above drawings are part of the site analysis on public space and culture. 

Zooming in on the site, we see the different public space levels return. What immediately jumps out is the emptiness of the plot. Most of the space in front of the Deichtorhallen is open and undefined, with only a handful of people rooming around. This can probably be explained by the space’s former use, namely the weekly outdoor market, which formed an extension to the market within the Deichtorhallen and required an empty space. In an attempt to structure the space, planters have been placed around the edge, which define a walkway and double function as bollards to protect the large window of the Hallen. The only permanently defined public space is the promenade on the quay.

The above images are part of the site analysis on public space and culture. 

Because of the strong presence of water in Hamburg, public space happens on different levels in, on and above the water. 

Above are 5 examples of Hamburg’s different public space levels:

1. On the water: Floating docks are accessible at sea level. 2. Waterfront Promenades: Embankment promenades for walking and cycling are at 4 to 5.5 meters above sea level. 3. Terraces: Marco Polo and the Magellan Terraces provide the largest public squares in the city, and creatively transition the public thoroughfares from the waterfront promenades to the street level.  4. Streets: All streets (and buildings) are built on artificially raised, flood-protected bases at around 7.5 to 8 meters above sea level.  5. Above the streets: In addition to the street level, there are higher elevations of occupiable space, some public and some private. A public plaza is built at 37 meters above sea level as part of the Elbphilharmonie.

The above maps are part of the site analysis on public space and culture. 

The nolli map shows the difference between the old city and Hafencity when it comes to density and semi-public space. Where the old city is characterized by large closed building blocks, the Hafencity typically consists of either open blocks or oblong stamp structures. 

In addition, the bottom two maps shows the overlap between the cultural program and the protected heritage buildings, meaning cultural institutions are typically housed in heritage buildings. 

Coming from the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands, I have always been fascinated with the meaning of a body of water for a city’s identity, dynamics, history and industry. I would like to study and emphasize the relationship between the city and the harbor.  My fascination with the studio Design Crossovers is that it allows you to explore the many layers of a city and how they are all related. As illustrated in the sketch above a city is much more than streets and buildings, it’s about water, green, public space, transport, the subsurface, people, heat, and the symbiosis or clash between all these.