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HafenCity, Brooktorkai
Sectors: Structural, Architectural
Applications: Structural Connections
Summary: The Hollo-Bolt® Flush Fit was specified as a structural steelwork connection in HafenCity’s Brooktorkai quarter, allowing the glass roof and frontage of the Germanischer Lloyd headquarters to be constructed without the fixings being visible, ensuring the construction remained true to GMP’s competition winning architectural design.
The revolutionary Hollo-Bolt Flush Fit, creates immense opportunity for architectural design as the unique fixing is concealed within the steelwork with no protruding bolt head or nut.
HafenCity, Hamburg is currently Europe’s largest inner city development, a purpose-built district spanning an area of 1.5 million m² and scheduled for completion by 2025. Developer Quantum Immobilien AG and architect GMP (Gerkan, Marg und Partner) created an architectural solution that delicately complements the existing environment, uniting tradition with innovation; for example, utilising clinker-brick facades as a reference to nearby historic buildings, while marrying with clean, modern lines of large glass enclosed open spaces. The prominent glazed feature of the Germanischer Lloyd building guarantees expansive views over the old warehouse district and creates a striking entranceway to the company’s new head office.
The Lindapter M12 Hollo-Bolt Flush Fit was used to construct the glazing support frame, securing the wide spanning glass roof and multi-storey windowed front. The connection design included splice joints inside the adjoining pre-drilled SHS sections, allowing the fixings to be simply inserted and tightened with a torque wrench for a rapid installation. The cost effective solution required no specialist equipment or labour and dramatically less work at height in comparison to traditional welding or through-bolting methods. The Hollo-bolt heads were then painted the same colour as the steelwork, making the connection virtually invisible. The resulting steelwork is not only structurally sound, but aesthetically pleasing, presenting a clean symmetrical appearance.