Coffee Plaza: Striking Oval Building Features An Innovative Louvered Facade

The enticingly named and beautifully designed Coffee Plaza serves as headquarters for one of the world's largest coffee trading companies and overlooks the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-built-der-spiegel-headquarters-tops-out-in-hamburg/">HafenCity</a> in Hamburg. The striking building is also one of the new energy efficient buildings in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gleaming-white-cubic-apartment-building-helps-redevelop-hafencity-in-hamburg/">Hamburg's burgeoning harbor district</a>. With an innovative automatic louvered facade to minimize solar heat gain and energy use, Coffee Plaza, designed by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/city-green-court-in-prague-features-a-living-wall-and-tree-in-the-central-atrium/">Richard Meier and Partners</a>, has become a commanding example for the area.

The 165,000 sq ft oval-shaped tower sits between the park and the plaza and becomes a hub of city activity.

Twelve floors of office space are supported by an underground garage.

The rooftop penthouse with conference rooms and a 'sculptural roofscape' affords 360 degree views of the harbor and the city.

Energy efficiency is achieved through the use of high performance mechanical systems and an carefully designed facade to minimize solar heat gain.

The facade's design allows in natural daylighting and encourages natural ventilation, without overheating the interior.

Vertical glass louvers on the south and west facades rotate automatically with the sun to provide shade and minimize heat gain.

Views from on top of the oval tower's roof of Hamburg.

Conferences in the penthouse also enjoy fabulous views. Here you can see the new Philharmonie under construction.

A little worker bee inside Coffee Plaza.

More views of Hamburg.

Coffee Plaza was completed in 2010.

Site plan of Coffee Plaza.

Elevation of Coffee Plaza.