The Elbphilharmonie building located in Hamburg Germany is definitely worth visiting if you are traveling to the area. The architectural significance of this concert hall is out of this world. I visited a couple years ago when I was studying abroad in Hamburg and I completely fell in love with the architecture. The original building was demolished due to being bombed by WW2. Then they built what is currently underneath the wavy glass part that was added in 2017 and designed by the well-known architecture firm Herzog & De Meuron.
Tickets to see a performance can be purchased here. You can also buy tickets to go up to the mezzanine and get a breath-taking view of Hamburg.
The new building sits directly on the same plan as the Kaispeicher red brick building. The dynamic architectural language of the addition brings a new perspective to the once outdated old building below. The parametric curved roof resembles sail ships that are so crucial to the identity of Hamburg. Furthermore, the main entrance has a spectacularly large escalator that takes you directly to the rooftop deck. The rooftop deck has a bar and a curvy glass façade. Overall, the design is radical and puts Hamburg on the map for significant world-wide architecture.
My favorite part of this building has to be the rooftop deck. When I was on the deck I saw someone on their balcony below sunbathing completely naked which was very humorous for my classmates and I. I visited the concert hall in 2018 with my professor Martin Klaeschen as part of a study abroad trip from my college Illinois Institute of Technology located in Chicago. Overall, I had a blast and highly recommend visiting this architectural gem.
When visiting, there are tons of great hotels really close to the concert hall. I recommend even staying at a youth hostel if you are up for meeting new people.
