Hot Spots

The site for this invited competition is located in the pedestrian shopping mile of Geesthacht, 50 km from Hamburg. As a contribution to the new urban masterplan for the harbour area, which we had developed for the same town in 2000, this building project directly addresses the existing economic situation and gentrification in Geesthacht.
The project consists of a series of buildings, forming a new socially motivated architectural complex, which challenges the economic structure of a commercialised, mixed use development.

The ground level façades of the proposed buildings are transparent throughout, leading from the open street to the semi-public inner courtyard with its enclosed garden landscape. Small shops and a supermarket will be accommodated in the ground level, a restaurant/café will open towards the sheltered inner garden. Offices will occupy the first floors of the buildings. All other floors are reserved for high quality flats of different sizes. Rooftops offer views to the close Elbe and are accessible by the community of the residents.

The different buildings of the new complex are socially and formally characterised by unique 'red' spaces, which are called 'Hotspots'. These enclosures are set up for community and unprofitable public use. Possible uses range from dance and painting classes to meetings of local interest groups. These new spatial typologies will be administered by a Trust, dedicated to the running of these 'Hotspots'. The ‘Hotspots’ are intentionally visible from the outside of the buildings, creating a landmark situation in the pedestrian zone.
The financial strategy adopted here, is a public/private ownership, which benefits both, the local community groups and the developer.