THE CROWN: LUXURY REAL ESTATE IN HAMBURG HAFENCITY - CONDOMINIUMS WITH A VIEW OF THE ELBPHILHARMONIE! NEW CONSTRUCTION
Pure luxury: That's what the new residential tower "The Crown" promises in Hamburg's HafenCity. If you love luxury real estate, this property is definitely the right address. Imagine standing on your balcony, around 50 meters above the Elbe, gazing at the wave-like design of the Elbphilharmonie, and enjoying the sunlight reflecting off the Elbe, making the water sparkle. Doesn't that sound dreamy? No wonder almost all the units in the project have already been sold.
The Crown: Architecture, Design, and High-Quality Interiors
The "The Crown" tower is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023 and is one of four projects in the "Be-Strandkai-Quartier" on the HafenCity peninsula, which also includes the nearly identical residential tower "FiftyNine," designed by architect Christoph Ingenhoven. All the buildings in the quarter have a similar footprint, are about 60 meters high, and are designed in white and gray. Harmony was a key focus in the design process. The sophisticated layout of "The Crown," named for its crown-like peak at the top, offers an ideal view. The front line of the building runs parallel to the Elbe, ensuring that the views from both the west and east apartments always face the Elbe.
Geographical Overview
The property is not only located in the heart of HafenCity, directly at the Strandkai tip between the Elbphilharmonie and Marco-Polo-Tower, but it is also well-connected to the rest of Hamburg. The U-Bahn lines U3 "Baumwall" and U4 "Überseequartier," as well as various bus stops, are in close proximity. The trendy Hamburg district offers a variety of restaurants, boutiques, architectural highlights, museums, and galleries, providing a diverse living experience.
Innovative Design Comes with a Price
Living in HafenCity is certainly not cheap. Luxury living in this Hamburg trend district, directly by the Elbe, comes at a price. The average square meter price for "The Crown" is €17,700, covering a gross floor area of approximately 11,000 square meters spread over 17 floors. The lower floors, up to the 11th floor, feature smaller 2- to 3-room apartments ranging from 55 to 130 square meters. The upper floors are divided into spacious 3- to 4-room apartments ranging from 154 to 228 square meters and 4- to 6-room apartments ranging from 260 to 303 square meters. The crowning feature is the two 5- and 7-room penthouses on the 15th and 16th floors, each with two levels and over 415 and 426 square meters.
A special highlight is the triangular balconies integrated into the building, which are present in every apartment. To protect against the sometimes harsh Hamburg weather, a glass wind shield is incorporated into the elaborate framework design elements of the facade. The building's goal is to create a harmonious synergy through its design, transferring architectural elements from the outside in, with a focus on creating a sense of openness. This is particularly emphasized through the airy cuts and spacious layouts of the apartments.
Configuring Apartments Using Digital Tools
A unique configuration tool allows prospective buyers to get a sense of the luxury tower even before its completion. Thanks to new visual standards, it is possible to experience each of the 75 condominiums and their unique views in a 360-degree view. The apartments can be configured independently using the tool. Three different interior styles, designed by the Düsseldorf designer duo Armin Panahi and Randi Schumacher, serve as templates. While "Pure" impresses with simple elegance, "Coco" features luxurious marble and gold elements, and "Silk" creates an elegant living environment with graceful wood paneling. See for yourself and get an impression of how the living spaces look in each style.
Silk: Opulent, Elegant Gold Design
If you are into luxury and enjoy extravagant styles, take a look at the living room styled in "Silk."
Coco: Modern and Simple Design
"Coco" is more understated and cooler in its concept. Immerse yourself in the modern world and enjoy the view from the luxury loft.
Pure: Minimalist Yet Bold
If you can't decide between the two styles, "Pure" might be the perfect choice, as it combines both styles.
The purpose of this simulation is to give prospective buyers a better understanding of the cost-performance ratio. This includes the view from floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies, which in the upper floors partially wrap around the entire building and are planted with Mediterranean trees. Thousands of drone shots were taken to simulate a realistic panoramic view of the potential home.
Virtual Experience
By directly furnishing the floor plan, emerging questions about storage space, niches, or room layout are visually addressed as effectively as possible. Similar to Google Streetview, buyers are virtually placed into the space to get a thorough impression. The interior of each apartment is usually planned individually by the buyer in advance, so the developer can consider the buyer's wishes directly. Prospective buyers are expected to better understand the apartment through the three different styles, with the hope that this will be the final factor leading to a purchase decision.
The design is open: In larger apartments, for example, the bathroom is equipped with a separate shower and toilet behind closed doors, so that only the freestanding bathtub catches the eye upon first entering.
The product is thoroughly developed, which is usually unusual for developers. It is not only meant to serve as a decision aid but can also be customized by the customer according to their preferences. Adding individual accents, such as a different wall color or a distinct wood tone for the flooring, allows for personal adjustments to the pre-designed styles.
“We want to offer buyers the opportunity to experience something that isn’t even there yet,” says Björn Dahler, Managing Director at DC Developments. Dahler understands how important it is, especially in these times, to create a digital visualization to provide added value for customers. According to him, "a few hundred thousand euros" have already been invested. Despite the unique tool, most buyers initially opted for a "bare" apartment to plan the interior later.
In a showroom in the Überseequartier of HafenCity, buyers can experience tactilely what they have already experienced virtually. According to the marketing team, the "Coco" style has been particularly well received by buyers so far.
Sustainability Comes First
The philosophy of the commissioned architecture firm is focused on sustainable and ecological construction. HafenCity's standards are high in general. Great care is taken in the use of materials to ensure sustainability, as well as on an energy level. Electricity and heating costs are to be minimized, and water flow in the building is regulated. These requirements had to be met by the architects from the outset.
What particularly distinguishes architect Christoph Ingenhoven is his use of planting. When thinking of his buildings in Shanghai, this is often one of the first things that comes to mind. This type of planting will only be found in the penthouses and on all other larger terraces in this project. Björn Dahler confirms this and states at a press conference that a birch tree will be placed on all these outdoor areas, as it can withstand the strong winds in HafenCity. For example, both penthouses each have four trees that are taller than the rooms.
Completion and Buyers Overview
The apartments are expected to be ready for occupancy in the second quarter of 2023. An additional two years of construction time is very realistic. 70 of the 75 apartments have already been sold or reserved, and this was achieved through silent marketing, without advertisements or press articles. Many buyers use the apartments as second homes. Cosmopolitans who have multiple residences also need a prestigious, modern HafenCity address. Many buyers come from the region or from North Rhine-Westphalia but are also spread across Germany. The proportion of international buyers is not significant.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the rapid sale, as real estate is currently a good investment. However, the ratio of investors to owner-occupiers is very low: only 20-25 percent are reported to be for investment purposes, mostly in the smaller units of 50 to 60 square meters (a total of 2 units per floor). Björn Dahler emphasizes that all apartment sizes in all floors have sold well. It is said that all sizes were equally in demand. During the initial marketing phase, only the apartments in the first few floors were available, as visualization was completed for these first, which explains why the apartments up to the 11th floor were sold first.
One of the two penthouses has already been sold, but the other is still available. This is partly because the latter has been on the market for a shorter time and also because the price range is very high. “The penthouses are the two most expensive properties at eleven million euros each,” says Björn Dahler, Managing Director at DC Developments.
FiftyNine: A Competitor?
The individual buildings of the "Be-Strandkai-Quartier" do not directly compete with each other, as they target different demographics depending on their location in HafenCity. Marketing for "Strandkai," "FiftyNine," and "The Crown" has been staggered. Currently, only eight apartments are available on the market, and they do not interfere with each other.
"FiftyNine" is also nearly sold out, with only three large apartments remaining out of the 76 units. However, demand for "The Crown" has already been significantly higher than for "FiftyNine" in a shorter time, as every apartment offers a water view. The standard is noticeably higher, as the building does not border the cooperative project and does not provide a view into an inner courtyard.
Overall, little other new construction volume has come onto the market in the same period that could compete with the two towers, which has likely contributed to the rapid sale of apartments in both luxury towers. A larger project with over 300 apartments is currently in the planning stages. It is somewhat lower in scale, not "high-end," and can be seen as a completely different project. Another project with 150 rental apartments is planned for the tip of the island between the two towers. This project also includes rental apartments with controlled pricing, but similarly to "FiftyNine" or "The Crown," luxury apartments will be available.
MEDIUM:
FIV Magazin - Issue #11 - Article 06.04.2021
LOCATION:
Hamburg
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