gmp brings pedestrians and cyclists across the Baakenhafen basin
Last weekend, the Baaken Park in HafenCity was officially opened with a two-day opening fair. For the first time, numerous visitors used the new Baakenhafenbrücke to reach the park. The slender steel construction is the result of a competition initiated by the HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, which was won in 2013 by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) in cooperation with structural engineers Knippers Helbig from Stuttgart.
Bridges and promenades form the backbone of the intricate pedestrian path network in HafenCity, in which the Baakenhafen is the largest basin. In addition to the large road bridge to the very west, this new crossing is only the second link between the development in the north and the southern peninsula. With the new crossing over the water, distances in the new Baakenhafen quarter are shortened; the bridge links the residential buildings along the promenade at Versmann Quay with the new Baaken Park designed by Atelier Loidl. The crossing over the basin is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians and will benefit, in particular, families with children who want to reach the play and recreation areas of the new park. The new bridge not only brings the neighborhoods closer together but also links the area at Petersen Quay with the necessary service lines for gas, fresh and waste water, electricity, and communication media.
The material of the pedestrian and cyclist bridge reflects characteristic port constructions for ships, rails, and cranes. The seven segments of the main body were fabricated in Magdeburg using 20 to 70 millimeter thick steel sheets and, after being shipped to Hamburg, were assembled on the pre-assembly area at Petersen Quay. In the summer of 2017, a floating crane placed the assembled bridge—with a total weight of about 300 tonnes—to the nearest millimeter at its final destination. The free-spanning steel construction, with a span of about 65 meters, consists of a trough-shaped beam inside which the service pipes are installed. The apex of the slightly arched bridge has deliberately been asymmetrically placed towards the north and the wall of the quay in order to maximize the open space available for passing barges. The lateral view appears slender and lightweight due to the folding of the steel sheet cladding. This elegant effect is further enhanced by the lattice railing that consists of inward-sloping steel bars, horizontal stainless steel cables, and a wooden handrail.
The bridge, which does not carry motorized traffic, is particularly inviting to pedestrians taking a stroll and offers open views towards the Elbphilharmonie to the west and the Elbbrücken underground station to the east that is currently still under construction. The design for the new end station of the U4 underground line is also by gmp. With a conspicuous steel construction of bent lattice girders, it resonates with the historic structure that spans the Norderelbe section of the Elbe River.
