Bert Brüggemann : construction documentation of the award-winning UNILEVER headquarters in Hamburg harbour city

For over two years, Bert Brüggemann and his camera have been accompanying the multi-award winning construction of the UNILEVER company headquarters in an exposed location in the harbour city of Hamburg.

Not only did he document the constructional development of the monument, but first and foremost the people who took part in it as well as the employees who moved in there later. From the planning to laying down the cornerstone to moving in next to the Elbphilharmony, his pictures document the event that gained worldwide attention.

An unusual building with an unusual concept was raised directly next to the Elbe River. The result was an array of various awards: it was voted the best office building in the world at the World Architectural Festival and was the first building to enjoy the gold standard for sustainable construction in the world.

The architect Martin Haas from Stuttgart from the Behnisch Architekten architectural office realised the project.

Bert photographed a book on the house titled ‘What do you say now?’, featuring the architecture as well as the key people involved and affected by the construction, from all walks of life: the company staff, architects, marketers, craftsmen and many of the freelance and contract workers at UNILEVER. Bert presets an exclusive preview selection of his portraits on GoSee.

André Baxmann masterminded the concept for the book, Andreas Lühmann was in charge of the creative direction. Oliver Wurm and Alexander Böker wrote the text in the book.

“The book is dedicated to Univer clients and consumers and all staff working during the construction. It gives them a voice”, says the blurb on the back.