Maritim Hotel und Internationales Congress Centrum Dresden Germany

Urban Development

The beauty of Dresden grew out of its harmony of nature with spirit. A harmony with nature in the sense where the Elbe River landscape flows through the municipal area, supplementing the spirit of a creative and artistic character of the city itself.
The building site lies at the heart of a charged environment between two opposite poles. Since the bastion of the Brühl Gartens designates the edge of the inner city at the Carolabrücke bridge leading to the Elbe river flatlands spreading out to the east, one could almost expect a building site with similar characteristics opposite the bastion: namely to indicate the edge of the inner city at the west end and to establish a link between the Elbe River landscape to the Ostragehege on the other side of the Marienbrücke bridge.
The view from the Brühl Terrace presents the historical cityscape in all its extreme charm. Facing the Japanese Palais, one can also view the Blockhaus, the State Chancellery and the Augustusbrücke bridge that links both shores of the river: analogies to conditions that contributed to the creation of the new Congress Center as an opposite pole to the Brühl Terrace

This occurs in that:

• the buildings themselves reflect the motif of the Neue Terrace.
  
• the ascending angle of the Terrace significantly highlights the west end of the inner city as well as relaxes the city skyline along the shores of the Elbe River and apart from that links its relationship to the Ostragehege in its inherent motion.
• the position of the Terrace situated above the Marienbrücke bridge offers a clear view of the Ostragehege.
• the curved lines currently presented in the concept can be taken as mirroring the curves of the landscape.
  
• the angle of the Terrace just catches the condensed skyline on the river.
  
• the entrance foyer situated above offers a complete panoramic view of the city and Elbe River landscape.

The development above the Terrace might at first seem surprising, but its position was purposefully chosen to complete its central idea of presenting Dresden from this position.

The result will be a typical appearance in a unique manner. Unmistakeably associated solely with this place. An, in a sense, original completion of the skyline between the Carolabrücke and Marienbrücke bridges. Something that will remain and enrich one's memory of Dresden.

Design

All floors and ceilings as well as the terrace are designed to be light and appear to float. Therefore, the face of the building will be built translucent and made out of glass, with the exception of the south façade at the kitchen, administration and the showroom. Instead, these sections are designed as enclosed but with intersections of large windows and bands of windows structured so they cannot be mistaken for the outer supporting walls.
The glass façade will receive a strong horizontal scheme consisting of a framework of projecting wooden elements, which at the same time serve to divert force winds to the supports behind the façade. Vertical structures could therefore be reduced to their smallest possible dimension in order not to obstruct the view to the urban silhouette, which appears somewhat condensed from the angled perspective.
We designed the terrace foyer and hall windows with glass tinted for protection from the sun so that curtains to block out the sun could be avoided.

Outside Layout

This urban composition possesses the vital implication of creating a balance between the plenary hall, Erlwein warehouse and the Congress Center with the focal point of the inner plaza. The urban developmental connection to the Erlwein warehouse is achieved by the high canopy, the view from Permoser Strasse to the Japanese Palais remains.

(Text:Architects Storch Ehlers& Partner, September 2000)