The Elbphilharmonie on the Hamburg waterfront

Hamburg, Germany

Reimagine the Elbphilharmonie

Get the briefSee the winners
Winners3Top 1010Jurors6Drawing1

01BriefElbphilharmonie

Reimagine through one drawing

Sometimes one drawing is enough to spark a revolution.

Get the full brief

The competition asks for a single architectural drawing, a section, a perspective, a collage or a hybrid, that reimagines the Elbphilharmonie. Bold concepts matter more than realism or technical precision.

Could the building respond to climate instead of style? Could it evolve with the city? Could it be built from light, earth or memory? Could the facade be intelligent, adaptive and alive?

  • Sustainability
  • Materials
  • Facade
  • Adaptability

02WinnersElbphilharmonie

The winners

Selected by our jury from all entries.

Full poster of Reimagine the ElbphilharmonieHover to zoom · click to enlarge
01First prizeWinner

Reimagine the Elbphilharmonie

“This competition forces you to make decisions and bring your design and concept ideas to the point in only one drawing.”
Designed by
Sanne ReinaertsMira HimmelmannAnthony Hans WidjajaYanelle SchwarzNikolay Marinov
Architekten K2
Germany
01First prizeWinner · Interview

Reimagine the Elbphilharmonie

Sanne ReinaertsMira HimmelmannAnthony Hans WidjajaYanelle SchwarzNikolay Marinov
Germany

Why we entered

We always seek for opportunities to enable us to think out of the box and challenge us with creativity, AI and everything beyond.

What it opens up

Success in the team enables good team atmosphere and collaborations. Winning this prize puts Architekten K2 in the spotlight and gives us a wide publicity.

In one sentence

This competition forces you to make decisions and bring your design and concept ideas to the point in only one drawing.

What it reminded us of

This was a perfect test for us to see and learn that we are on a good level of creativity and that our ideas and architecture get positive support and feedback from the community.

Our tip for IDOARCH

The perfect example of supporting architects and creativity are competitions like these. Keep up the good work!

Full poster of The PhilarmonicHover to zoom · click to enlarge
02Second prizeWinner

The Philarmonic

“You should enter to give your boldest ideas a chance to fly!”
Designed by
Diana ZotovaLarisa KurlyckinaAnastasia AstrakhantsevaMilana Ermilina
Fifth-year students, Moscow Architectural Institute (MARHI)
Russia
02Second prizeWinner · Interview

The Philarmonic

Diana ZotovaLarisa KurlyckinaAnastasia AstrakhantsevaMilana Ermilina
Russia

Why we entered

We’re architecture students from the Moscow Architectural Institute (MARHI), Russia’s leading architecture university. We’re fifth-year students, already working on our graduation theses. We’ve been together all this time, and the years we’ve spent studying there have forged a strong bond between us. We were really excited about the idea of creating something together, and this competition became the perfect chance for our first collaborative project. We decided to challenge ourselves by entering an international architecture competition to test the strength of our most unconventional ideas.

What it opens up

Our dream was to design something together and we did it! And in the end, the competition became less about winning and more about reconnecting with all the friends and old acquaintances who supported our work. That feeling of community and belonging: that’s the real value of competitions like this.

In one sentence

You should enter to give your boldest ideas a chance to fly! It’s also a way to feel the support and recognition from a diverse community of architects from all over the world. The emotions you get are truly indescribable.

What it reminded us of

This competition reminded us just how much we love creating. It all started when one of us simply said, “What if…?” and we just dove right in and started making it happen.

Full poster of The City StageHover to zoom · click to enlarge
03Editor’s choiceWinner

The City Stage

“A building is nothing without its users.”
Designed by
Alexia Chiscan
Architecture student
Romania
03Editor’s choiceWinner · Interview

The City Stage

Alexia Chiscan
Romania

Why we entered

I liked the idea of rethinking such an international landmark, and trying to find ways in which it could be improved now, almost 10 years after its finalization.

What it opens up

It was my first competition regarding architecture, so it gave me more confidence in myself and my skills as an architecture student and as a future professional.

In one sentence

“A building is nothing without its users.”

What it reminded us of

It was a breath of fresh air, a challenge completely different than what we do in university. The idea of letting young professionals have a say in regards of this architectural masterpiece stimulates a different part of their brains.

03Top 10Elbphilharmonie

Top 10

The ten drawings the jury reviewed in the final round.

Reimagine the Elbphilharmonie by Sanne Reinaerts · Mira Himmelmann · Anthony Hans Widjaja · Yanelle Schwarz · Nikolay MarinovReimagine the ElbphilharmonieSanne Reinaerts · Mira Himmelmann · Anthony Hans Widjaja · Yanelle Schwarz · Nikolay MarinovGermanyThe Philarmonic by Diana Zotova · Larisa Kurlyckina · Anastasia Astrakhantseva · Milana ErmilinaThe PhilarmonicDiana Zotova · Larisa Kurlyckina · Anastasia Astrakhantseva · Milana ErmilinaRussiaThe City Stage by Alexia ChiscanThe City StageAlexia ChiscanRomaniaElbphilharmonie by Parth Jain · Zixuan ZhangElbphilharmonieParth Jain · Zixuan ZhangIndiaHarbour Skin by Joseph DoldenHarbour SkinJoseph DoldenUnited KingdomGreenhouse by Cornelia Solleder · Peter BednerGreenhouseCornelia Solleder · Peter BednerGermanyElbphilharmonie by Olga TarchilaElbphilharmonieOlga TarchilaRomaniaWhat If? by Sanand MaddipatiWhat If?Sanand MaddipatiIndiaElbphilharmonie by Baris ParlatangillerElbphilharmonieBaris ParlatangillerTurkeyWhat If Elbphilharmonie Had a Soul? by Ahmet Emin CebirWhat If Elbphilharmonie Had a Soul?Ahmet Emin CebirTurkey
Poster previewHover to zoom · click to enlarge
Top 10Reimagine the ElbphilharmonieSanne Reinaerts · Mira Himmelmann · Anthony Hans Widjaja · Yanelle Schwarz · Nikolay Marinov

04JuryElbphilharmonie

Our jury

Each jury is carefully selected, bringing together professionals whose expertise relates directly to the focus of the competition.

Meet all jurors
Portrait of Maged ElbannaMaged ElbannaArchitect, computational designer & AI specialist
Portrait of Lucia OberfrancováLucia OberfrancováResearch assistant & teacher, Hochschule Wismar
Portrait of Liam Hayward-MillsLiam Hayward-MillsArchitectural project manager & designer
Portrait of Luis LoaizaLuis LoaizaAssociate & landscape architect, EDSA
Portrait of Mariam KorachyMariam KorachyFounder, Mariam Korachy Architects
Portrait of Martín André Gaibor SánchezMartín André Gaibor SánchezArchitectural designer & budget control analyst

05CoursesElbphilharmonie

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Thank you!

Open the brief

REIMAGINE THE ELBPHILHARMONIE

Architecture Competition

Brief

Reimagine - Through one drawing

  • Sometimes ONE drawing is enough to spark a revolution!  Not through detail or precision, but through imagination. A single image can challenge what architecture is, question what it serves, and propose what it could become.

  • In this challenge, we invite you to reimagine the Elbphilharmonie through one powerful architectural drawing  a section, a perspective, a collage, or even a hybrid of all three. The aim is not technical perfection or realism. Instead, we’re looking for a bold concept, an emotional idea, a question made visible.

  • What if this iconic building responded to climate instead of style?

  • What if it evolved with the city?


  • What if it was built from light, from earth, from memory?

  • What if the facade wasn´t just iconic but intelligent? Adaptive. Sustainable.Alive.

Keywords

Sustainability - Materials- Facade - Adaptability

Winners

FIRST PRIZE REIMAGINE THE ELBPHILHARMONIE Sanne Reinaerts - Mira Himmelmann - Anthony Hans Widjaja - Yanelle Schwarz - Nikolay Marinov Germany

FIRST PRIZE

REIMAGINE THE ELBPHILHARMONIE

Sanne Reinaerts - Mira Himmelmann - Anthony Hans Widjaja - Yanelle Schwarz - Nikolay Marinov
Germany

SECOND PRIZE THE PHILARMONIC Diana Zotova - Larisa Kurlyckina - Astrakhantseva Anastasia - Ermilina Milana Russia

SECOND PRIZE

THE PHILARMONIC

Diana Zotova - Larisa Kurlyckina - Astrakhantseva Anastasia - Ermilina Milana
Russia

EDITOR CHOICE PRIZE THE CITY STAGE Alexia Chiscan Romania

EDITOR CHOICE PRIZE

THE CITY STAGE

Alexia Chiscan
Romania

TOP10

ELBPHILHARMONIE Parth Jain - Zixuan Zhang India

ELBPHILHARMONIE

Parth Jain - Zixuan ZhangIndia

HARBOUR SKIN Joseph Dolden United Kingdom

HARBOUR SKIN

Joseph DoldenUnited Kingdom

GREENHOUSE Cornelia Solleder - Peter Bedner Germany

GREENHOUSE

Cornelia Solleder - Peter BednerGermany

ELBPHILHARMONIE Olga Tarchila Romania

ELBPHILHARMONIE

Olga TarchilaRomania

WHAT IF ? Sanand Maddipati India

WHAT IF ?

Sanand MaddipatiIndia

ELBPHILHARMONIE Baris Parlatangiller Turkey

ELBPHILHARMONIE

Baris ParlatangillerTurkey

WHAT IF ELBPHILHARMONIE HAD A SOUL ? Ahmet Emin Cebir Turkey

WHAT IF ELBPHILHARMONIE HAD A SOUL ?

Ahmet Emin CebirTurkey

REIMAGINE THE ELBPHILHARMONIE Sanne Reinaerts - Mira Himmelmann - Anthony Hans Widjaja - Yanelle Schwarz - Nikolay Marinov Germany

REIMAGINE THE ELBPHILHARMONIE

Sanne Reinaerts - Mira Himmelmann - Anthony Hans Widjaja - Yanelle Schwarz - Nikolay MarinovGermany

THE CITY STAGE Alexia Chiscan Romania

THE CITY STAGE

Alexia ChiscanRomania

THE PHILARMONIC Diana Zotova - Larisa Kurlyckina - Astrakhantseva Anastasia - Ermilina Milan Russia

THE PHILARMONIC

Diana Zotova - Larisa Kurlyckina - Astrakhantseva Anastasia - Ermilina MilanRussia

OUR JURY

Each jury is carefully selected, bringing together professionals whose expertise directly relates to the focus of the competition.

Read more

  • Black and white portrait of a young woman with curly hair, wearing a plaid long-sleeve shirt and earrings, smiling at the camera.

    Maged ELBANNA

    Architect, Computational Designer and AI specialist

  • Black and white photo of a woman smiling outdoors, with sunlight on her face, and trees in the background.

    Lucia Oberfrancová

    Research assistent & teacher at Hochschule Wismar

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man with short dark hair, a beard, and wearing a collared shirt, sitting in front of a window with blurred outdoor scenery.

    Liam Hayward-Mills

    Architectural project manager & designer


  • Black-and-white photo of a man outdoors near water, wearing a cap and a scarf.

    Luis Loaiza

    Associate & Landscape Architect EDSA, inc.

  • A woman with curly hair smiling, wearing earrings and a necklace, in front of a blurred background.

    Mariam Korachy

    Founder of Mariam Korachy Architects

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man with light-colored, wavy hair, wearing a white collared shirt, against a plain background.

    Martín André Gaibor Sánchez

    Architectural designer & Budget Control Analyst

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