The Hamburg Conference Center (CCH) first opened its doors in 1973 and was celebrated as the largest conference facility in Europe at that time. Iconic artists from the 1970s and 1980s, including ABBA, Deep Purple, and Queen, performed here, drawing huge crowds. Nearly five decades later, in 2014, the architectural firm ARGE agn leusmann/Tim Hupe Architekten was tasked with expanding and renovating the venue. Since its reopening in 2022, the center’s schedule and events have continuously evolved.
Tim Hupe Architekten led the design, approval, and detailed planning phases of the project. Architect Tim Hupe remarked, “Revitalizing and further developing this site near the city center, Planten un Blomen park, and the Radisson Blu hotel is an incredible opportunity.” Just a few years ago, this area behind Dammtor railway station was nearly abandoned.
The renovation of Dag Hammarskjöld Platz and the Marseille Promenade has created a new landmark in the heart of Hamburg, attracting visitors from around the globe. The new structure serves as a connective element between the historic and modern activity areas, linking three distinct spaces into a continuous sequence. Visitors access the new entrance hall via Parliament Square, while the atrium connects this level with the elevated “Belvedere.”
The entrance and first floor create a strong base that extends the “watchtower” feature to the main facade. The hall’s shape is inspired by the city’s architectural context. Although its prismatic exterior may resemble a hotel, the interior is designed as a vibrant gathering space.
The expansive glass facade seamlessly connects the interior spaces with the surrounding park. This transparent envelope not only defines the building’s exterior but also acts as a spatial layer, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor environments. The southward extension of the conference center links the large volume and diverse architectural elements, while the projecting ceiling functions as a sunshade, bridging the “watchtower” and the park and offering views both inside and out.
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Section diagram
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architect: Hupe Flatau Partner
Area: 105,800 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Piet Niemann
Chief Architect: Tim Hupe
Architectural Designers: Christoph Schuchardt, Jorges Picas, Gabriel Pastor, Christian Wieschemann
Chief Architect: Bernd Leusmann
Structural Architects: Silke Denker, Ulrike Rau, Wolfgang Zell, Bernhard Jordan, Gerrit Mimkes, Lydia Bausch, Magdalena Poholski, Manuel Galvez Castillo, Kristina Schilling, Britta Adelmann, Sahar Sasani
Landscape Architect: RMP Stephan Lenzen Landschaftsar
Facade Planning: R+R Fuchs
Structural Engineer: Wetzel & von Seht Hamburg, WTM ENGINEERS GmbH
Lighting Design: Bartenbach GmbH
Acoustic Consultant: Müller BBM GmbH Berlin
Fire Safety: HHP West Ingenieure GmbH
Stage Technology: That Hamburg GmbH
Venue Management: LV Bahanagement AG
Location: Hamburg, Germany
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