Research undertaken as Project Director (Head of Design) Poitiers Architects, Hamburg. The project engages with international debate about ‘Shrinking Cities’, the shift in population from medium-size cities to ‘mega cities’, a phenomenon investigated by an international research project initiated by Philipp Oswalt for the German Federal Cultural Foundation which has been widely published and exhibited. (For further information see both volumes of ’Shrinking Cities ’, edited by Philipp Oswalt, Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern Ruit, 2005.) ‘Kemper Trautmann Haus’ (see article by A.Steinhausen, Deutsche Bauzeitung , Sept.2006, ISSN 0721-1902) was built on a highly prestigious, yet very demanding Hamburg city-centre site near the lake (Alster). In addition to the requirement of creating views towards the water – which was achieved by the curved glass façade towards the street, creating a gap to the adjacent building and opening the view onto the Alster, another challenge was the proximity of adjacent buildings – restricting natural lighting. This was addressed by creating an approximately 4 sqm gap at the rear of the building providing maximum daylight and reducing energy consumption. The rigour of the initial concept, developed through detailed massing studies via scale models and 3d modelling and computer daylight simulation studies, is signified through the success of the building as a high profile real estate development. As an outstanding example of contemporary German Architecture and exemplary approach towards the regeneration of cities and building in dense urban contexts, this project was shown in the German Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2006, 10 Sept – 19 Nov 2006 This original design won the 3rd Prize in the ‘Contract World Awards 2007’ in the category ‘Office’ http://www.contractworld.com/40828?x=1 and was short-listed for an international RIBA Award.