New Opera House Hamburg
The Bjarke Ingels Group from Copenhagen wins the qualification process for the new Hamburg Opera House in HafenCity.
The architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has won an architectural qualification process for the new Hamburg opera house in HafenCity with a spectacular design. A jury consisting of representatives from the city, the Kühne Foundation, and external experts unanimously voted in favor of the design in November. The design envisions an outstanding opera house with an inviting, accessible roof landscape that opens up on all sides to the Elbe River and the city. The winning design will now be finalized over the next two years in close consultation with the foundation, the city, and the Hamburg State Opera as the future user. At the end of this extended preliminary planning phase and a reliable cost estimate, the Kühne Foundation will make a final decision on the realization of the new building. The planned location is the Baakenhöft site in HafenCity, directly on the Elbe.
Bjarke Ingels Group wins qualification process
Based on preliminary theater planning, the architectural qualification process was carried out by Hamburgische Staatsoper Projekt GmbH. The jury attested that the design by the Bjarke Ingels Group team was a well-considered concept and a convincing urban planning approach. It was described as a “successful symbiosis of good conditions for an opera house and an exciting landmark for all Hamburg residents.” The generous roof overhangs of the façade, which result in a cascade of elegant balconies, were praised as a special feature: “In effect, a spiral of roof gardens is created, planted with native trees, bushes, and grasses and made available to the public as a place to relax. This allows visitors to walk completely around the opera house and enjoy views of the city, HafenCity, and the harbor. “ The design becomes particularly iconic at night, when its sprawling ”leaves” are illuminated from below, resembling a blossoming flower.
Design for the New Hamburg Opera House _Visu6 ©BIG & Yanis Amasri Sierra, Madrid, Spain
New construction of the Hamburg Opera House on Baakenhöft
In February 2025, the city of Hamburg and the Kühne Foundation agreed on a contract for the construction of a new world-class opera house on the Baakenhöft site. The plan is for HSO Projekt GmbH to be responsible for the new building, in which, following approval by the city parliament, the city of Hamburg and the Hamburg State Opera will also be involved alongside the foundation. The city will also make the public areas around the new opera house accessible to everyone. The agreement stipulates that the city will contribute €147.5 million to the costs of constructing the opera house to cover location-specific additional costs, in particular for foundations and flood protection. This amount is capped. The foundation will cover the remaining costs for the construction of the new opera house. Upon completion, the building and the foundation’s shares in the project company will be transferred to the city as a donation.
Design for the New Hamburg Opera House_Visu4 ©BIG & Yanis Amasri Sierra, Madrid, Spain
In September, the Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg passed a bill requesting the Hamburg Parliament’s approval of the agreement.
The following internationally renowned architectural firms participated in the building construction qualification process with open space planning ideas put out to tender by HSO Projekt GmbH:
• BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Copenhagen
• gmp international GmbH, Hamburg, with Diller Scofidio & Renfro, New York
• Prof. Jörg Friedrich | Studio PFP GmbH, Hamburg
• Snøhetta, Oslo
• Sou Fujimoto, Tokyo/Paris
Text by: Torsten Stern, a-tour
Hamburg State Opera | Bjarke Ingels Group
Eine neue Oper für Hamburg – hamburg.de
*First image: Design for the New Hamburg Opera House _Visu3 ©BIG & Yanis Amasri Sierra, Madrid, Spain
