Hans Scharoun, Herzog & de Meuron, and Yuko Nagayama: Sharp Sails Roofs From Berlin to Tokyo

There is nothing new under the sun, yet Conscious Inspiration still flourishes.

From Eli Inbar Sketchbook 2024: “Sharp sails meeting the sky”

Let me start with a personal confession: I missed this.
We’ve renewed the blog and made some adjustments to reflect the times. Yet, surprisingly, the world continues as usual. There is nothing new under the sun: copy-paste and conscious inspiration remain as relevant as ever.

In the upcoming posts, we’ll examine this further:
Have the working methods of successful architects changed?

The Origin

Berliner Philharmoniker (Construction Period: 1956–1963)

Three years ago, I visited the Berliner Philharmonie in Germany, and that’s where our story begins. Note the distinctive roof design—its sharp, sail-like forms reaching toward the sky.

Completed in 1963, the Philharmonie was designed by Hans Scharoun, a prominent figure in organic and expressionist architecture.

The acoustics of the Berliner Philharmonie were a key consideration during its planning, and the concert hall is regarded as having some of the best acoustics in the world. The interior space is crafted to bring the audience closer to the orchestra stage, aiming to create an immersive experience.

 The Inspiration Source

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg (Construction period: 2007–2017)

Two years ago, on a trip to Germany, I stayed at Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. Note the distinctive roof design—its sharp, sail-like forms reaching toward the sky.

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, the Elbphilharmonie is a mixed-use building that combines a concert hall, a hotel, and public observation decks.

The structure was originally a warehouse, with its 1966 brick façade preserved at the base, while the interior and roof were reimagined to serve new functional and aesthetic purposes.

 It now houses the Hamburg Philharmonic Hall, featuring acoustics designed by Japanese acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota.

The Inspiration Echo

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower (Construction period: 2019-2023)

Next month, I’ll travel to Japan, where I’ll encounter a building completed six years after Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie. Note the distinctive roof design—its sharp, sail-like forms reaching toward the sky.

Designed by Yuko Nagayama & Associates, the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Tokyo serves as a multi-functional building housing offices, retail spaces, and entertainment venues.

Conscious inspiration or copy paste?

For you to judge

Epilogue

In 300 blog posts written over the past 12 years, a clear pattern has emerged: the inspiration behind the work of successful architects does not lie in the splendor of nature, the melodies of music, or the beauty of prose. Instead, the primary source of inspiration is exciting buildings

What does this indicate about our profession?

It highlights a growing trend that cannot be ignored: architects are increasingly turning to existing buildings as their primary source of inspiration.

So, where lies the problem?

The problem is that some of us struggle to draw true inspiration from existing buildings. At times, the results can feel more like a mere copy-paste, rather than the product of conscious inspiration process.

How then, can we consciously draw inspiration from existing buildings, while maintaining the planning needs and the relationship to the environment where the building is being built.

These are some of the ideas we’ll explore further in this blog.

Enjoy.