IBA Hamburg

Uli Hellweg (director)

Abstract

Much like other recent IBA exhibitions, IBA Hamburg 2013 covers a large area, and also touches on a wide range of topics. The activities take place on the river islands of Wilhelmsburg and Veddel. On these Elbeinseln (Elbe islands), with their unique urban, industrial and geographical characteristics, the IBA’s three main themes are addressed: the multicultural city (Cosmopolis), ecology, sustainability and climate (Stadt im Klimawandel), and urban peripheries (Metrozonen). This latter theme refers to traffic arteries, wetlands or abandoned industrial sites that are part of the city, but that have not yet been developed. About 50 projects will be realized in the framework of IBA Hamburg, many of which have already been completed.

Under the title ‘building exhibition within the building exhibition’, an experimental residential programme will take place in the centre of Wilhelmsburg. The projects are meant to showcase residential concepts that are relevant to the metropolis of the twenty-first century. The four chosen themes are: changing patterns of use (Hybrid Houses), smart materials (Smart Material Houses), affordable housing (Smart Price Houses), and living with water (Water Houses). For each theme there is a competition, and from these entries ten projects have been selected to be built.