Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie due for completion in 2017

30 May 2013, 14:50

The new concert hall for Hamburg in Germany, the Elbphilharmonie, is due to be finished in 2017.

Classic FM was granted access to a tour of the building site to view the shell of its various concert halls, apartments and planned hotel complex.

When completed, the Elbphilharmonie's three concert halls (with capacities of 2150, 550 and 170 people) will be the official home of the NDR Symphony Orchestra, as well as hosting concerts from the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra when they are not performing in Hamurg's Staatsoper.

Aside from an extensive concert facility, the Elbphilharmonie will also house 45 luxury apartments and a hotel with approximately 250 guest rooms. The hotel, operated by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, is due to open for guests in 2014.

The Elbphilharmonie, with final costs in the region of €865 million, sits on the western end of a huge area of redevelopment in Hamburg, the Hafen-city, and is being constructed on top of a warehouse dating back to 1875.

The building's multi-storey car park is currently home to the Philharmonia's Re-Rite exhibition, and guided tours of the building site itself have been booked up months in advance. You can visit the Elbphilharmonie's website here.