It is a design highlight of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier: A filigree net of glass spans the future pedestrian zone and protects visitors from rain, snow and storms. Elpida Lentsiou is currently working on this and other sub-projects as Construction Manager at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield.
In our interview series, she talks about her personal career, current areas of responsibility and the challenges she has already mastered in the construction of the new urban quarter.
Watch the full interview here
Credit for sequences in which the glass roof is shown: Werner Sobek
Roof construction as an eye-catcher
The so-called “Hamburg Schietwetter” is probably a familiar term to many. Of course, there’s no denying that the sun doesn’t always shine in the northern German metropolis. In order to protect visitors to Westfield Hamburger-Überseequartier from precipitation and allow them to stroll around without an umbrella, an elegant glass construction connects the surrounding buildings in the pedestrian zone. The filigree structure from the creative pen of Werner Sobek Design, is carried by robust supports and can withstand any weather conditions. “The planning phase has been completed,” Lentsiou explains the actual status. “We are currently preparing a sampling for the glass roof and the entire structure. After that, it will go into production.”
Cinema enjoyment at the highest level
The realization of the cinema building, for whose interior design Chapman Taylor is responsible, is also progressing steadily. “Over the past few months, we’ve been busy with the tenders to contract the construction companies and get them on board.” A special architectural highlight here is the ceiling construction in the cinema’s atrium. In addition, Hamburg’s first Dolby Cinema is being built there, which promises unique cinematic enjoyment and sets new standards in terms of design, picture and sound quality. Kinopolis, the operator, will then open the premium multiplex cinema in the fall of 2023, which will have ten auditoriums and approx. 2,300 seats.
In addition to the many tasks that still lie ahead of the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier construction team, it has already mastered numerous challenges. For example, the sampling of the various facades, for which the design team and the city have given the go-ahead. At 60 meters long and 15 meters high, the façade mockup model, which can still be examined on Shanghaiallee in HafenCity, has the size of an apartment building: “It was the first time that the team and I actually built something,” Lentsiou recalls fondly of this successfully completed challenge.
