I agree completely. I lived there too and was skeptical too, but the end result is really wonderful. It's probably one of the best buildings in Hamburg now. To

I agree completely. I lived there too and was skeptical too, but the end result is really wonderful. It's probably one of the best buildings in Hamburg now. To give some more context: Many of Hamburg's larger buildings are built in a way that is supposed to resemble ships, and so is the elbphilharmony. The bottom of the building is actually an old "Kontor" (depot) building in the harbor (before: http://www.fotograf-hamburg.de/02_bilder_hamburg_speicherstadt/074_schiff_feuerwehr_hambrug.jpg http://www.fotograf-hamburg.de/02_bilder_hamburg_speichersta...). From there it has these sail-like structures on top. Similar shape in the nearby 100 year old Chilehaus: http://www.hamburg.de/contentblob/1131342/dfed187d90a1f73c7efdbc57671888f3/data/kontorhausviertel-1.jpg http://www.hamburg.de/contentblob/1131342/dfed187d90a1f73c7e... as well as the new building of DER SPIEGEL's publishing house central: http://www.dbz.de/imgs/102478178_d9b278661e.jpg http://www.dbz.de/imgs/102478178_d9b278661e.jpg and this office-building: http://www.bildarchiv-hamburg.de/folders/Grosse%20Elbstrasse%20-%20Bilder%20vom%20Altonaer%20Hafenrand./771_5742_gebaeude-dockland-fischereihafen-altona-elbe.jpg http://www.bildarchiv-hamburg.de/folders/Grosse%20Elbstrasse...