IBA dock in hamburg - Slawik architekten, Germany

IBA dock in hamburg - Slawik architekten, Germany

Courtesy of Slawik Architekten and Archdaily

http://www.archdaily.com/288198/iba-dock-architech

http://www.slawik.net/…/Slawik_IBA%20DOCK_projekt%20paneel_…

Floating on the elbe river in hamburg, the ‘IBA dock’ by german firm slawik architekten is an office and exhibition building that prepares for the elevating water levels caused by global warming. 
With ocean and groundwater levels rising, the waterways will be pressured to absorb more water, inundating historical city centers and monuments. Floating structures for settlement or expansions near water can adjust to the changing levels, offering a more sustainable strategy than the overused solution of dikes. Currently the largest in germany, this structure is built upon a 43 meter long and 25 meter wide concrete pontoon to navigate 3.5 meter tides.
Three storeys of modular steel frames are assembled on top of the floating foundation. the modules may be disassembled for transport or to rearrange the form to pass bridges. visitors access the top deck through a pedestrian access connected to land.
The sun’s energy is captured with rooftop photovoltaic panels and supplies energy to the heat pumps which use the water below.

ArchitectsArchitech - Architecture and TechnologyLocationAm Zollhafen 12, 20539 Hamburg / GermanyDesign TeamHan SlawikClientIBA Hamburg GmbHArea1,075 sqmProject Year2010PhotographsRüdiger Mosler, Courtesy of Architech - Architecture and Technology, Courtesy of IBA Hamburg GmbH
City and Climate

Change Because of global warming and rising water levels of the oceans and the groundwater - the rivers have to absorb more water in future. The further increase of dikes could not be longer a sustainable solution and we must find new strategies for houses and cities.
At the moment there are no solutions for historical city centre and monuments. But for new urban settlements and expansions near to the water there are innovative possibilities: floating buildings. A floating building is rising and falling with the water. It could float wherever it is needed and is a symbol of the flexibility of the ideal urban transformation in times of climate change. Floating buildings can be formed into new urban configurations. These cities could be quickly adapted to changing necessaries and conditions. They generate the new city types of the 21th Century: the floating city. Iba DockIn Müggenburger Zollhafen –a port of the Elbe in Hamburg - Germany’s largest floating building is located: the IBA DOCK. 
The building and the gangway move up and down with the daily tide of 3,5 m. It floats on the water even in extreme storms and adjusts to the nature. A bridge leads to the entrance on the top deck, accessing exhibition and presentation areas, a city model, cafeteria and an outdoor terrace. East to the exhibition area there are offices for the staff. The building is made on a 43 m long and 25 m wide concrete pontoon that serve as a pier.

The 3-floors structures were built in a modular lightweight steel frame with prefabricated modules. They were assembled on site and can be dismounted when the building changing the location and passing bridges. Subsequently the modules can be re-assembled and varied. 
Energy and Sustainability

The IBA DOCK is also an exhibition of innovative construction and energy saving technologies - a great example of sustainability and energy efficiency: Almost all components are reusable and the whole building can be assembled/de-assembled/re-assembled. The IBA DOCK uses only the environmental energy of the sun and the water with CO2-neutral heating and cooling system. A heat pump exploits energy from the Elbe and the electricity demand of this is covered by a photovoltaic system on the roof. Other cooling or heating is not needed.

EQUITONE facade material [natura] [pictura] www.equitone.com