# Elbtower

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{{Short description|Skyscraper in Hamburg, Germany}}
{{Use Oxford spelling |date=August 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates |date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = Elbtower
| image               = Elbtower-stadtmodell1a.jpg
| image_size          = 
| image_caption       = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|53|32|5|N|10|1|34|E|display=inline,title}}
| status              = On hold at 25 floors, {{cvt|100|m}} high
| building_type       = Office, hotel
| architectural_style = [Neo-futurism](/source/Neo-futurism)
| location            = [HafenCity](/source/HafenCity), [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), Germany
| address             = 
| construction_start_date = 2021
| topped_out_date     = 
| construction_stop_date = 2023
| opened_date         = 
| cost                = {{Euro|700M}}
| owner               = 
| height              = {{cvt|245|m}}
| architectural       = 
| tip                 = 
| antenna_spire       = 
| roof                = 
| top_floor           = 
| observatory         = 
| structural_system   = 
| material            = 
| floor_count         = 64
| floor_area          = {{cvt|104000|m2}}
| elevator_count      = 
| architect           = Christoph Felger
| architecture_firm   = [David Chipperfield Architects](/source/David_Chipperfield)
| developer           = [Signa Holding](/source/Signa_Holding)
| engineer            = 
| structural_engineer = 
| main_contractor     = 
| parking             = 
| website             = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20230619004549/https://elbtower.de/en/}}
}}

The '''Elbtower''' is a partially built [skyscraper](/source/skyscraper) east of the [HafenCity](/source/HafenCity) borough of [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), Germany. Construction began in 2021 and was halted in 2023 due to bankruptcy of the main financier [Rene Benko](/source/Rene_Benko) of Signa Holdings. If completed, the tower would have a height of {{convert|245|m}}. The tower would be, by far, the [tallest building in Hamburg](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Hamburg) and the [third tallest in Germany](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Germany){{snd}}after the [Commerzbank Tower](/source/Commerzbank_Tower) and the [Messeturm](/source/Messeturm) (both in [Frankfurt](/source/Frankfurt)).

== History and 2023 Construction stop ==
The government of Hamburg (Senate of Hamburg) first presented the project in March 2017 at the {{lang |fr |[Marché International des Professionnels de l’immobilier](/source/MIPIM)}}. Its mostly finalised design was presented in February 2018 by Hamburg's then [First Mayor](/source/List_of_mayors_of_Hamburg) [Olaf Scholz](/source/Olaf_Scholz) and representatives of the HafenCity Hamburg GmbH and its investors.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kapalschinski |first=Christoph |date=8 February 2018 |title=Hamburg bekommt das dritthöchste Haus Deutschlands |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/immobilien/235-meter-hoher-elbtower-in-der-hafencity-hamburg-bekommt-das-dritthoechste-haus-deutschlands/20941388.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519085925/https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/immobilien/235-meter-hoher-elbtower-in-der-hafencity-hamburg-bekommt-das-dritthoechste-haus-deutschlands/20941388.html |archive-date=19 May 2022 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=Handelsblatt |language=de}}</ref>

The building is being built on a prominent urban site on the north bank of the [Norderelbe](/source/Norderelbe) river and thus marks the entrance to the inner city. The site is bordered by several bridges crossing the {{lang |de |Norderelbe}}.

Construction began in 2021 and was expected to be completed in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 February 2018 |title="Elbtower " – Eine elegante Hochhaus-Ikone für Hamburg |url=https://www.hamburg.de/pressearchiv-fhh/10411090/2018-02-08-pr-elbtower/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610160825/https://www.hamburg.de/pressearchiv-fhh/10411090/2018-02-08-pr-elbtower/ |archive-date=10 June 2022 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=hamburg.de |language=de}}</ref> According to estimates, the construction costs amount to {{Euro|700{{nbsp}}million}}.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 February 2018 |title=Signa to develop €700m Elbtower in Hamburg |url=https://propertyeu.info/Nieuws/Signa-to-develop-700m-Elbtower-in-Hamburg/af35190e-1f3f-4652-ad1d-19a2c38c1f40 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425001846/https://propertyeu.info/Nieuws/Signa-to-develop-700m-Elbtower-in-Hamburg/af35190e-1f3f-4652-ad1d-19a2c38c1f40 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |website=PropertyEU}}</ref>

The State bank [Helaba](/source/Helaba) played a central role in the construction project of Elbtower. As became known after the bankruptcy of the Signa Group, the government of Hamburg only wanted to sell the property on the edge of [Hafencity](/source/HafenCity) on the condition that there were already secure tenants for part of the area. Helaba then took over the required pre-letting quota as a so-called "suitable financier". Only then did the city of Hamburg sell the property to Signa.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mußler |first1=Hanno |last2=Preuß |first2=Susanne |date=2023-12-06 |title=Signa-Insolvenz und die Helaba: Ihre Rolle beim Elbtower |language=de |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/signa-insolvenz-und-die-helaba-ihre-rolle-beim-elbtower-19362788.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |issn=0174-4909}}</ref>

In November 2023, Reuters reported that construction had been halted apparently because the main developer, Signa Prime, a [Rene Benko](/source/Rene_Benko) company, had failed to make its payments to Lupp, the construction company.<ref>{{cite news |author=Tom Sims |date=November 3, 2023 |title=Hamburg skyscraper construction halted in grim sign for German property sector |publisher=[Reuters](/source/Reuters) |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/hamburg-skyscraper-construction-halted-grim-sign-german-property-sector-2023-11-03/ |accessdate=December 2, 2023}}</ref> If Signa fails to meet its contractual obligations, the City of Hamburg may issue penalties and claim repurchases rights.<ref name="malsch">{{cite news |author=Laura Malsch |date=November 11, 2023 |title=Billionaire Benko's Property Woes Risk Leaving Scars in Hamburg |publisher=[Bloomberg](/source/Bloomberg_News) |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-11/billionaire-rene-benko-s-property-woes-risk-leaving-scars-in-hamburg |accessdate=December 2, 2023}}</ref>

In December 2023 it became public that Signa Holding is bankrupt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kummerfeld |first=Claudio |date=2023-12-07 |title=Signa-Pleite: 8 deutsche Sparkassen auf Gläubigerliste |url=https://finanzmarktwelt.de/signa-pleite-8-deutsche-sparkassen-auf-glaeubigerliste-294206/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=finanzmarktwelt.de |language=de-DE}}</ref>

thumb|left|Construction site in September 2023

== Design ==
The tower was designed by Christoph Felger from [David Chipperfield Architects](/source/David_Chipperfield), an English architecture firm known for a lower [high-rise](/source/Tower_block) project in Hamburg, namely the Empire Riverside Hotel.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ravenscroft|first=Tom|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/02/13/david-chipperfield-hamburg-germany-tallest-tower-elbtower/|title=David Chipperfield wins competition to design Hamburg's tallest tower|website=[Dezeen](/source/Dezeen)|date=13 February 2018|access-date=24 April 2023|archive-date=29 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629004847/https://www.dezeen.com/2018/02/13/david-chipperfield-hamburg-germany-tallest-tower-elbtower/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Elbtower covers a footprint approximately in the shape of an isosceles right triangle, with the hypotenuse of this triangle parallel to the shore of the Upper Harbor Canal to the northeast, while the legs are to the west and south.

The design consists of a comparatively large, four to five-storey pedestal, on top of which the next six to seven floors are more and more recessed to form the base of a slender, approximately 64-storey tower figure. The top eight floors of the tower once again take up the theme of flowing gradation, gradually dodging northeast. Due to the complex geometry of the structure, depending on the place of observation, different urban development effects will result.

== Reception ==
The project receives both support and opposition from the public and political representatives. [Olaf Scholz](/source/Olaf_Scholz), then Mayor of Hamburg, championed the project.<ref name=malsch/> While the ruling [SPD](/source/SPD) and the opposition parties [CDU](/source/Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany) and [FDP](/source/Free_Democratic_Party_(Germany)) welcomed these plans, the [Greens](/source/Alliance_90%2FThe_Greens) expressed skepticism as a coalition partner of the SPD.

Critics pointed out that the renovation and development of existing buildings such as the [Heinrich Hertz Tower](/source/Heinrich_Hertz_Tower) (Hamburg's TV tower) and the [Bismarck monument](/source/Bismarck_Monument_(Hamburg)) should take precedence over new prestige projects. The Senate responded to this criticism with the announcement of a transparent construction project and in particular a purely private financing of the project.

Further criticism refers to the more fundamental urban development question as to whether a skyscraper of the planned construction volume fits in with Hamburg's building tradition. There are also concerns that the project{{snd}}similar to other major local and national projects, such as the [Elbphilharmonie](/source/Elbphilharmonie), which opened about a year before the presentation of the draft{{snd}}could, depending on the contractual details, put another huge financial burden on the city.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schirg|first=Oliver|url=https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/article209887309/Zu-hoch-Hamburg-streitet-um-den-Elbtower.html|title=Zu hoch? Hamburg streitet um den "Elbtower"|website=Hamburger Abendblatt|language=de|date=10 March 2017|access-date=24 April 2023|archive-date=21 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421194237/https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/article209887309/Zu-hoch-Hamburg-streitet-um-den-Elbtower.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lorenz|first=Markus|url=https://www.shz.de/deutschland-welt/hamburg/artikel/groessenwahn-oder-grosse-chance-so-reagiert-hamburg-auf-den-elbtower-41622887|title="Größenwahn" oder "große Chance": So reagiert Hamburg auf den "Elbtower"|website=SHZ|language=de|date=10 March 2017|access-date=24 April 2023|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425001846/https://www.shz.de/deutschland-welt/hamburg/artikel/groessenwahn-oder-grosse-chance-so-reagiert-hamburg-auf-den-elbtower-41622887|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article162672516/Elbtower-Hamburg-baut-Megahochhaus-in-HafenCity.html|title="Elbtower" – Hamburg baut Megahochhaus in HafenCity|website=Welt|language=de|date=8 March 2017|access-date=24 April 2023|archive-date=21 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421194234/https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article162672516/Elbtower-Hamburg-baut-Megahochhaus-in-HafenCity.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[List of tallest buildings in Hamburg](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Hamburg)
*[List of tallest buildings in Germany](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Germany)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Elbtower}}
*{{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20230619004549/https://elbtower.de/en/}}

{{Tallest buildings in Germany}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Germany|Hamburg|Architecture}}

Category:Skyscrapers in Hamburg
Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Germany
Category:Buildings and structures in Hamburg-Mitte
Category:Buildings and structures under construction in Germany
Category:21st-century architecture in Germany
Category:Modernist architecture in Germany
Category:David Chipperfield buildings

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elbtower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbtower) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbtower?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.