Seventy years after the opening of the existing opera house on Dammtorstraße, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is setting the course for an architectural fresh start. The existing Hamburg State Opera building, which was erected in 1955 in the sober style of post-war modernism, is to be replaced by a new structure. In 2025, the Hamburg Parliament selected the design by the renowned Copenhagen architecture practice BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) for delivery.
The architectural concept by the Copenhagen office is characterised by an unconventional approach. The planned building does not present itself in a traditional manner, but visually resembles an artificially sculpted landscape. A striking oval structure is envisaged, which will feature a fully accessible rooftop landscape. The Baakenhöft, an exposed peninsula within the HafenCity district, was designated as the site for this development.
Specialist engineering implementation and sustainability targets
Werner Sobek AG has been entrusted with the demanding lead specialist planning for the new construction project. The engineering consultancy faces the core task of reconciling the complex design and technical requirements of the Danish architectural scheme with the demands of contemporary, energy-efficient building operations. Certification under the DGNB Gold sustainability standard is targeted as a binding benchmark.
The scope of work for the lead specialist planner encompasses several essential disciplines that must be coordinated for the success of the project on the peninsula:
- —Structural engineering for the oval-shaped building
- —Building physics to ensure the required operational performance
- —Technical climate and energy consultancy for sustainable operation
- —Overarching supervision and management of all sustainability requirements
Responsibility for structural engineering, building physics and energy
Following the contract award, Werner Sobek AG stressed that it was proud to play a major part in shaping this extraordinary cultural project. Alongside classical structural engineering, the firm holds full responsibility for building physics, climate and energy consultancy, as well as the field of sustainability, a pooling of core competencies that is crucial for the ambitious construction project in Hamburg's HafenCity.
