This project, a new residential and commercial building for developer Buergerstadt AG and the City of Hamburg, was the result of an invited competition for young architects from across Europe. The project, which houses 26 apartments, with a restaurant and commercial spaces on the ground floor, was shortlisted down to the final two and was commended by the judges.

The project was designed for a prominent and exposed site within the Dalmannkai Quarter, which forms part of Hamburg's Hafencity master plan to the north side of the Elbe. The site sits adjacent to the imposing Kaispeicher A warehouse, currently being developed as the new Elb Philharmonie by Herzog & De Meuron. It overlooks the Sandtorhafen harbour project by Benedetta Tagliabue.

The proposal looks to the historic city, employing Hamburg's dark clinker bricks to create a heavy, grounded building that refers to the qualities of the existing architecture of the docks and waterfronts.

The building is intended to oscillate between a foreground and background condition - the simple form and rhythms of the facades are understated and seem familiar, but are inflected relative to their relationship with the light. This would subtly adjust the character of the building throughout the day, in response to its prominent setting - on the visual axis of the principal bridge approach to the new quarter, from the existing city. The brown copper roof is more modelled, a communal space for the residents, which would offer a fifth elevation to the proposed Philharmonie.

Closer to, the high firing temperature of the bricks distorts them and would give a scale and grain to the facades. The firing process leaves enamel traces on the bricks' surface, which would catch the light,

causing them to glitter. This characteristic is emphasised by the bronze anodising, to be employed on the deep-set window frames, the balconies and the metal faced, insulated shutters. These would amplify the warm glow of morning and evening sunlight, glancing across the facades and would periodically bathe the interiors of the rooms in a rich light.

From the earliest stages, the building was defined by the module and dimensions of the brick and the idea that repeated components and junctions. This would reinforce both its domestic and its urban character, as well as allowing the optimisation of its quality, relative to its cost.