The MSC Group, a global leader in the transport and logistics sector, is planning to build a distinctive corporate headquarters right on the water’s edge in Brooktorhafen in Hamburg’s HafenCity. The area is one of Europe’s largest inner-city urban development projects – the transformation of the former harbour and industrial zone to the south of the city centre into a modern urban quarter has already been underway for two decades. DMAA’s design for the new MSC Headquarters proposes a structure that merges harmoniously into the existing waterfront while also being perceived as a striking and elegant urban building block.

Inspired by the historic warehouses, the design picks up on and proposes a contemporary interpretation of the rigorous and serial nature of their structured facades. Slender columns, V-shaped beams, and tapered exposed concrete frames give the architecture an elegant and almost filigree appearance. Profiled, reddish-brown ceramic surfaces establish a link with the historical and physical context, while large areas of glazing loosen up the volume and offer deep views into its interior. Arcades and external terraces integrate the building into its surroundings, creating a close relationship with the water. The base of the building is regarded not as a separate element but as a rigorous continuation of the facade design in terms of both material and form.