Hamburg has a new landmark: the Elbphilharmonie, a magnificent Gesamtkunstwerk of architecture, location and music. The imposing structure, towering up to 110 metres in height, rises up atop some 1,700 reinforced concrete bollards in the middle of the River Elbe. The architects at Herzog & de Meuron created the structure by adding a sweeping glass façade of more than 1,000 different, curved window elements to the brick Kaispeicher A, formerly a warehouse for cocoa, tobacco and tea. Its contours are reminiscent of giant horseshoes and tuning forks and create unique, mirroring effects. Fitted with shimmering sequins, the building’s concave roof references imposing, frothing waves.

The heart of the Elbphilharmonie is the legendary concert hall, which literally hovers at a height of 50 meters – decoupled from the rest of the building for reasons of acoustics. Its acoustics, for which one of the world’s most renowned acoustics experts, Yasuhisa Toyota of Japan, is responsible, is overwhelming: The ‘white skin’, which derives its name from the roughly 10,000 gypsum fibre boards on the walls and ceilings, together with a reflector positioned in the middle of the vaulted ceiling, provide optimal listening pleasure in each of the venue’s 2,100 seats.

In addition to two other concert halls, the building is also home to 45 flats, the public Plaza at a height of 37 metres with a 360° panoramic view of the city, and a hotel of a special sort. Located in the eastern part of the building, ‘The Westin Hamburg’ extends from the 6^th floor to its top level on the 20^thfloor. In the hotel’s 244 exclusive rooms and suites, discerning guests will encounter Villeroy & Boch tiles: Mosaics from the PRO ARCHITECTURA range are integrated into the design concept by Tassilo Bost, of bost group berlin. The quiet, purist interior design plays with themes of sand, air, and water while combining a rectilinear composition with a flowing vocabulary of design. The small-format, 2.5 x 2.5-cm tiles in Pure White with a matt finish give the designer latitude for individual bathroom designs. Subdued and free of fanfare, these minimalist ceramic tiles highlight the exquisite atmosphere of the space.

The Westin Hamburg is also home to a 1,300-m² fitness and wellness area. In addition to training facilities, saunas, steam baths, two open-air loggias overlooking the Elbe and port, treatment and relaxation rooms, and a lounge, the Elb Spa also offers Hamburg’s longest indoor hotel pool, 20 m in length. The swimming pool was also designed with PRO ARCHITECTURA. Villeroy & Boch Tiles have been a proven and dependable partner for planners and architects in swimming-pool construction for many years. In addition to modular ranges, the tiles also offer all of the complementary trims for swimming pools that are both functionally excellent and aesthetically appealing at the same time.

PRO ARCHITECTURA is also featured in the staff rooms for the approximately 160 employees who look after the well-being of guests from all over the world at The Westin Hamburg.