News
Architecture for the new State Opera House on Baakenhöft
13.11.2025
Concept by BIG featuring expansive accessible rooftop gardens
The Danish architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has won the high-profile qualification process for the new Hamburg State Opera building in HafenCity with a spectacular design. The jury, consisting of representatives from the city, the Kühne Foundation, and external experts, unanimously chose the design, which envisions an opera house with a roof landscape that can be walked on all around. This opens up to the Elbe and the city and will be planted with native vegetation, creating a public park with views in all directions.
The winning design will be finalized over the next two years in collaboration with the city, the Kühne Foundation, and the State Opera. “My foundation would like to build a world-class opera house in Hamburg's HafenCity. We are delighted to be working with the renowned architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) from Copenhagen on this project,” said Klaus-Michael Kühne, President of the Kühne Foundation's Board of Trustees. Once the extended preliminary planning has been completed and a reliable cost estimate has been provided, the Kühne Foundation will decide on the implementation. Hamburg's First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher emphasized that the new State Opera House should offer the best conditions for art and culture and become a world-class venue. BIG's design showcases outstanding architecture that will shape the city skyline in HafenCity and make the Baakenhöft an extraordinary place for all Hamburg residents.
Dr. Andreas Kleinau, CEO of HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, was also enthusiastic: “This is what we wanted: an opera house that combines outstanding architecture on a publicly accessible site with inviting open spaces and diverse vegetation. This location makes the Elbe and HafenCity accessible to everyone. In the future, the aim will be to integrate these wonderful public spaces even more closely into their immediate surroundings. We are happy to invite everyone to participate in this process.”
Four other internationally renowned architectural firms participated in the competition. The exhibition of all designs will open on November 14 at 3 p.m. in the Kesselhaus and can be viewed free of charge until November 30.
The winning design will be finalized over the next two years in collaboration with the city, the Kühne Foundation, and the State Opera. “My foundation would like to build a world-class opera house in Hamburg's HafenCity. We are delighted to be working with the renowned architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) from Copenhagen on this project,” said Klaus-Michael Kühne, President of the Kühne Foundation's Board of Trustees. Once the extended preliminary planning has been completed and a reliable cost estimate has been provided, the Kühne Foundation will decide on the implementation. Hamburg's First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher emphasized that the new State Opera House should offer the best conditions for art and culture and become a world-class venue. BIG's design showcases outstanding architecture that will shape the city skyline in HafenCity and make the Baakenhöft an extraordinary place for all Hamburg residents.
Dr. Andreas Kleinau, CEO of HafenCity Hamburg GmbH, was also enthusiastic: “This is what we wanted: an opera house that combines outstanding architecture on a publicly accessible site with inviting open spaces and diverse vegetation. This location makes the Elbe and HafenCity accessible to everyone. In the future, the aim will be to integrate these wonderful public spaces even more closely into their immediate surroundings. We are happy to invite everyone to participate in this process.”
Four other internationally renowned architectural firms participated in the competition. The exhibition of all designs will open on November 14 at 3 p.m. in the Kesselhaus and can be viewed free of charge until November 30.